Everything happens for a reason.

Think about that for a moment.

All your efforts personal, professional, carnal utter and
absolute slaves to some cosmically predetermined set
of outcomes.
As if we have no say in, let alone culpability for, the
defining moments in our lives.
If you want a life of purpose by inverting the notion that
everything happens for a reason.
Redefine it.
Not as some future explanation for terrible tragedy, or
glorious achievement, but as validation of the
deliberate choices that lead us to these critical
junctures in the first place.
Assert authority over chance, fate, and destiny,
because everything does happen for a reason.
And that reason is you.
To attain elite success, you must be willing to make
the hard choices, do the unpleasant things, risk your
most valuable assets, and do away with the shackles
designed by society to limit us: love, marriage,
children.
And above all, the uninvited imposition of lesser
people's moral agendas.
Because nothing worthwhile is ever achieved without
sacrifice.
And true greatness only comes to those willing to
pursue it at any cost.
Ladies, gentlemen, Mr.
and Mrs.
Sean Donovan! Ah, let's see it.
Come on, kiss her! Yeah! Woo! Yeah! Hold on there,
miss! May I help you? Oh, hello again, Mrs.
Donovan.
Hi.
Sorry.
I have some legal paperwork for Miss Montgomery.
I'm just gonna run up for a quick signature.
Uh, I still need to call you up.
It's really coming down out there, huh? Hey! Hey! Hey!
Wait! Wait! Hey! Hey! Hey! This is Lisa Donovan, and
I need to speak with my husband right now.
Hello? Can anybody hear me? Fuck.
Sean! Sean! Sean? Sean! Call it off! Forecast for the
Bay Area today will be cool and breezy with high's
mainly in the 60s.
Windy conditions will continue near the coast All right,
all right.
Castro, I get it.
I get it.
I get it.
We'll go on a walk.
Just let me get my pants on, and we'll get out there in
two minutes.
All right.
I see you.
I see you.
We're going outside right now.
Give me a second.
Hey, hey, hey.
Will you be here when we get back for a proper good
morning? I wish.
I have to stop by the lab before my first pitch.
I needed to make sure that my presentation
transferred.
I know the feeling.
First pitch is always the scariest.
Just gotta stay in the moment.
Try not to think of all the things you can't control, focus
on what you can.
What if I freeze? First Triple-A game I played Giants
sent their scouts down.
On my first windup, my cleat broke off my shoe and
the ball sailed about five feet over the catcher.
I knew if I didn't pull it together right then, I'd never get
another shot.
So I picked up the cleat, and put in my pocket as a
symbol of all the obstacles, real and imagined,
bouncing around inside my head.
Figured if I could condense all that noise into
something smaller to fit in a pocket then all my self-
doubt could be managed.
Hmm.
Threw my first no-hitter that day.
You're gonna crush it.
Thank you.
Come on, Castro.
Good morning.
My name is Lisa Ruiz-Donovan, and I am seeking an
equity partner for my medical solutions company,
Emigen Molecular Sequencing.
Emigen Molecular Sequencing.
Emigen Molecular Sequencing.
- Hmm.
- Good job, young lady.
Hmm.
Thanks for coming in.
This isn't an area we're interested in exploring.
Let us talk and get back to you.
Okay? Everybody's hard at work, I see.
Anymore billion-dollar breakthroughs? - Just the one.
- Minus the billion.
Wham! Any calls, Sophie? Landlord.
- Want me to get him? - I'll call from my desk.
- Did you eat? - Yep.
Both feet.
Scratched three VCs off the list.
Before I make this call, please tell me there's enough
in our account to cover rent.
Yeah, for two months.
But payroll is another story.
I know you don't want to hear this, but I think it's time
we consider approaching the drug companies.
No way.
They would just buy us to kill us.
True, but at least you would get your money back.
You haven't taken a salary since we started this thing.
And you could be making five times what I'm paying
you anyplace else.
- Ten.
- See? You're in for the cause, same as I am.
I would deny that in court, bankruptcy or otherwise.
Fine, I will continue to help you on your hunt for the
golden ticket.
As long as you promise to rework your pitch.
What's wrong with my pitch? We fact-checked it a
hundred times.
Facts are not your problem.
It's emotional engagement.
I know this is outside of your comfort zone.
But you already have your way in.
You just have to use it.
Catch us up, guys.
Trevor McIntire, seven years old, pulled a frying pan
of hot grease onto his head.
- Guardian? - Welfare mom.
Still trying to locate her.
Looks like old scarring under the new injury.
Let's get him up to Burn One for a head-to-toe.
You've got a nice strong arm there, Trev.
You like baseball? I'm gonna go up with him.
Hang in there, little man.
All right? Giants sure could use a guy like you in the
bullpen.
Hey, Todd.
- I'll catch you back at the van.
- Yeah.
Ooh, hey, Doc, can I get some attention over here? It
hurts when I do this.
Oh.
Maybe you should stop doing that.
I don't know, I can't seem to help myself.
It's automatic when I get around a certain someone.
Todd, please.
Can't you see this isn't the time or the place? Hmm.
Well, what I could see is you looking a little tense, so
I thought I'd try to put a smile on your face.
What's wrong? We just lost a patient on the table.
Oh, babe, I'm sorry.
On top of that, we're short-staffed again.
And since I'm the low resident on the totem pole, I'm
forced to pick up the slack.
Well, as long as I've known you, no one's ever forced
you to do something you don't wanna do, Ange.
You can always say no.
You're right.
I need to have that conversation.
My girl.
See you at home.
Okay.
Bye.
You sure I can go? - Stop.
- You sure I'm good? Name your crime, Todd.
I don't know.
I'd kill Hitler.
I'd for sure kill Hitler.
That's not a confession, that's more a moral
imperative.
Angela, show your man how it's done.
Yeah, no, there are too many guy questions in this
bowl.
Marcos! Feliz cumpleaños! No es gran cosa, nena.
I'm so sorry, everyone.
This party is no longer accepting apologies, only
confessions.
- You're up.
- Oh.
I thought maybe you'd retire this game along with my
brother's 20s.
Forever young, baby, forever young.
Uh "Would you ever have sex with someone while
you're in a relationship with someone else?" - Oh.
- I'm guessing this is yours, Lionel.
All the good ones are.
Hold on.
We talking, like, swinging, hall pass, or whatever's
trendy with the gay boys these days? Ooh! I'm talking
complete and total transparency.
Sex can be in the same room with multiple people.
Sorry to disappoint, but I already got all the man I can
handle.
He's enough for me.
What? Look, look.
If it's all above board then I'm definitely, definitely
order me up a hot meat sandwich with two slices of J-
Lo and my sweet lady Angela.
Oh, baby, nobody asked you.
Um, will you excuse me while I try to wipe that out of
my brain? Okay, so you're saying if you could have a
no harm, no foul, one-off with one of your favorite
Backstreet Boys, you'd say no? Backstreet Boys I
might have mentioned your bedroom ceiling was
covered in Backstreet posters growing up.
So was yours.
Amen, sister.
- Hey, cake's in the fridge.
- Okay.
All right.
Well, who's next? No.
Yeah, well, that makes two of us, I guess.
- Oh, sorry.
- No.
It's fine.
It's nothing.
Would you mind handing me that lighter? Yes.
Who is that? It's the chief of surgery.
Is there a problem at the hospital? What's the holdup
in here? Marcos will only be 30 for a year.
Um Why don't you pass out the plates and forks and
we'll be out in just a sec? Yeah, sure thing.
I didn't mean for any of this to happen.
It just happened.
What does that mean for you and Todd? I don't know.
I keep telling myself I'm gonna end it, but Look,
promise me you won't say anything.
It will kill Todd to hear this secondhand, especially
coming from Sean.
Angela I'm not asking you to lie.
I just need time to figure everything out.
Promise me, Lisa.
How are you feeling about the pitch? Way less
comfortable than I was with the fact-y figure-y version.
But objectively, I know you pointed me in the right
direction.
Good, 'cause Gage Scott Ventures wants to meet with
you tomorrow at 4:00.
Wait, what? I thought they weren't interested.
That was before Mr.
Scott found out there was a competitive bid from his
old firm.
So we're peddling fake news now? I didn't make the
rules, I'm just playing the game.
I thought a little FOMO would go a long way with a guy
like that.
As it turns out, I was right.
You're an evil genius.
I know.
By the way, I am sending you the link.
This guy's got some seriously stereotypical taste in
women.
You might want to consider wearing something a little
less business-y and a little more - Demeaning? - Don't
be naive.
We can't afford it.
Dog's walked, garbage curbed, dishes done Okay to
come to bed or you need to keep going? Ugh.
Why couldn't Sean have a twin who's into a work-
obsessed Fortnite enthusiast, pushing the dark side of
her 20s? You'd only break his heart, Cassidy.
Not before breaking his balls.
Don't keep her up too late, Romeo.
She's got a misogynist dragon to slay.
Yeah Oh my God.
You are My fire The one desire Believe When I say -
Oh.
- I want it that way How did you even get that on? You
ready to bring some sexy back? That's the wrong boy
band and singer.
Come here.
You and Angela settle whatever was going on in the
kitchen earlier? Yeah.
She's just working through an issue with a co-worker
and needed to get some of it off her chest.
Well, she's been married to Todd since high school.
If Angela can make that work, whatever this is should
be no problem.
What else? You worried about the company? I just
don't wanna let everyone down.
Least of all, you.
Nothing you do could ever let me down.
It's all gonna be okay.
How do you know? Because we've got each other.
This little munchkin with the devilish grin is my sister,
Emilia.
That's my brother Marcos, and the little girl with the
unfortunate pair of trifocals is yours truly.
Our mother used to say, whatever mischief one of us
didn't conjure up, the other two would.
And she was right.
We were inseparable growing up.
Uno, dos, tres.
The three amigos.
But obviously, it's not your real family we're talking
about here, right? My birth parents were killed in a
house fire when I was three.
My nanny ended up adopting me so I wouldn't become
a ward of the state, so yeah, this is my real family.
Here's Emilia again with her hospital suitemate
Tiffany.
Both were diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia
at age eight.
This is six months into treatment.
As you can see, Tiffany is thriving while Emilia is
struggling.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia, is a curable disease.
The drug protocol designed to fight it produces a 90
percent survival rate.
Unfortunately, because of a genetic deviation in some
children's immune cell checkpoints, the treatment is
rendered ineffectual for them.
Happy birthday to you My little sister lost her battle six
days before her ninth birthday.
If it were me who had gotten sick instead of her, we'd
likely both be alive, and I might not have devoted my
life to this cause.
What we're working towards at Emigen, is a
customized map of the blockers and receptors in
every human being's unique immune system so that
drug companies can optimize medications to work on
all patients battling a life-threatening disease not just
the lucky ones.
It's, um It's a very impressive presentation.
I can honestly say with every fiber of what some tell
me is a very jaded heart that nothing would make me
happier than to invest in your company.
But I see a flaw in your proposal that just can't be
overlooked.
I'm afraid big pharma would drown us in litigation
before we even got in the game.
Hey, I'm sorry about your sister.
I, uh, I wish there was more I could do.
Yeah, I get that a lot.
Ma'am.
Oh, thank you.
Hey, bartender, how about something cheap and wet?
You asking or offering? What's it look like? Looks like
you could use a bubble bath and some black coffee.
As it happens that's our special tonight.
What's this? I got us a room overlooking the Bay
Bridge.
We're celebrating.
How is it possible that you're not reading this picture?
No investor will touch me, my staff is about to be
unemployed.
Both your life savings and the loan my parents gave
me has evaporated.
And we can't We can't afford a room overlooking the
Bay Bridge.
Hey.
Hey.
You can't solve all the world's problems.
You knew that going into this.
That's one.
Two, the hotel room is free, courtesy of one very cool
night manager.
Three, if your company does go under, your
employees knew the risks and they're all smart
enough to land on their feet.
We're gonna pay back every cent your parents lent us.
I'll rob a bank if I have to.
You would, wouldn't you? Room 4703.
Give me half an hour to shut the bar down.
No one's coming out in this rain anyway.
- Mm? - I'm sorry.
I love you.
Get out of here.
Last call! I'll have a gin martini.
One olive, very dry.
Sorry.
Didn't see you there.
What kind of gin do you prefer? Which do you prefer?
I drink whiskey.
I'd have brought it over to you.
Mm.
I don't like to drink alone.
Pour yourself a whiskey.
Can't.
Company rules.
Won't tell if you won't.
To your health.
Hmm.
Haven't seen you in here before.
You staying at the hotel? No.
Well, I hope you don't live far.
It's coming down hard out there.
I have a driver.
Driver has an umbrella.
He can take us wherever it is you go, when you clock
out of there.
Oh, uh No, thank you.
I'm really flattered, but, uh I'm married.
All I was offering was a ride.
Oh, damn.
I'm I'm sorry.
Please forget I said that.
Sometimes when it gets late, people tend to get a little
Frisky.
Yeah.
Then what? And then nothing.
I'm married.
Right.
To that emotional girl who just made a spectacle of
herself.
That girl's the most important thing in my world.
And today was a terrible day for her.
Enjoy your drink.
Now who's been misunderstood? Let's just call it even.
Let's.
But now you've got me curious.
From where I'm sitting, she's a very lucky woman.
This wife of yours.
Tell me about her.
That's more like it.
You feeling any better? Hmm I'm not feeling any
worse.
Sorry you married such a train wreck.
Ah, don't worry about it.
I actually met a woman after you staggered up here.
Can't say I blame you.
I hope you two will be very happy together.
I think she's a little more your type than mine.
Said you'd know who she is.
Anne Montgomery? I don't Is this a joke? I don't know.
Maybe.
Who is this lady? Only one of the most aggressive
venture capitalists in town, and by all accounts born of
a jackal.
She definitely struck me as the kind of woman who
gets what she wants.
And what she wants is to meet my wife.
Wait.
You told her about me? Just the basics.
She's hosting some big investor thing and wants to
hear more about Emigen.
Think you can squeeze the jackal onto your calendar?
I can squeeze a lot more than that.
Morning, Cassidy.
You're in early.
- Late, actually.
- You were in all night? What in the world were you
doing? Making sure we didn't overlook any potential
Hail Marys.
That, and a fistful of Adderall.
Unfortunately, you hired a very thorough CFO.
I think we're out of options, Lis.
Think again.
What if I told you that we were gonna make a run at
Anne Montgomery? Well, I'd ask you if you hit your
head.
You don't just demand a meeting with Anne
Montgomery.
She'd have you executed.
I didn't have to.
She offered.
She offered? Do you know how hard I worked to get
us in the door with that woman? What did you do? I
promise I'll tell you the story later.
Now I have to cram my brain full of everything I need
to win her over.
Start and stop right there.
That has been out for less than a week, and I've
already read through it, like, four times.
She is my spirit animal.
Really? Everything I've read about her makes her
seem kind of horrible.
The world's a horrible place, but Anne Montgomery
wakes up every morning and she eats it for breakfast.
Mrs.
McIntire? It's the EMTs who brought your son to the
hospital yesterday.
Got him a get well present.
I'll just leave it here by the door, okay? Do you smell
smoke? Mrs.
McIntire! Unit 19 shelter fire, 38 East 19th Street!
Everybody out, now! Mrs.
McIntire! Help! Help us! Help! Help! Help! Come on!
We gotta get you out of here! Mom and kids checked
out okay.
Social services has them.
Cops found the father holed up in the basement.
Got a list of convictions a mile long.
Assault, possession, trafficking, aggravated child
abuse.
No way this guy should've ever made parole.
Hey, whatever's going through your head, it's not
worth it.
Sean, I'm serious, man.
Don't do this.
Hey.
Sean, what the fuck, man? You the paramedics who
rescued that family? - Yes, sir.
- You two boys are real heroes.
Whole place could've gone up.
Heard one of you applied for the academy.
We both did.
- What are your names? - Todd Archer, Sean
Donovan.
Mr.
and Mrs.
Sean and Lisa Donovan to see Miss Montgomery.
Welcome.
I'll let her know you've arrived.
Oh, thank you very much.
Excuse me.
You know that guy? Not exactly.
If you wouldn't mind stepping into the library, Miss
Montgomery will be with you shortly.
Hello, Sean.
Don't get up.
I can't spare much time.
You must be Lisa.
Yes.
Thank you for the meeting, Miss Montgomery.
I'll get right to it.
No.
No need for that.
I've done my homework.
You wouldn't be here otherwise.
- Thank you.
- Oh, don't thank me yet.
Many of my competitors, like that nauseatingly
arrogant Gage Scott, whom your husband told me
passed on your pitch, make decisions out of fear.
I operate on potential.
Which is something I believe your company has in
spades.
It's you I'm not sold on.
How can I convince you otherwise? Have you read my
latest book? - Studied it.
- Oh, is that so? So tell me are you two planning on
having children? - Yeah.
- Some day.
Right now, I am one hundred percent focused on
Emigen.
One hundred percent? I know you consider the
correlation between personal sacrifice and elite
success to be one of the cornerstones of your
business doctrine.
Not a cornerstone.
The foundation.
What I mean to say is I am fully prepared for this
opportunity.
Nothing is more important to me.
Not even your marriage? What kind of question is
that? It's a question for your wife.
I assume Sean told you how we met? He said you
struck up a conversation at the hotel bar.
Did he also mention that he thought I was coming on
to him? Smart women have always found Sean
attractive.
I consider it a compliment.
So what you're saying is that if I had been trying to
seduce your husband you'd still be here? I'm saying
Sean would never cheat on me.
I trust him.
Hmm.
Trust is the most dangerous thing you can give away,
Lisa.
But for the sake of argument, let's take cheating out of
the equation.
Say you were fully complicit in our affair.
Would that be an acceptable condition of a firm offer
to finance your company? You're asking if I would be
willing to trade my husband for my company? No.
That would not be an acceptable condition Anne.
Let's get out of here.
Lisa, wait, it's just a game.
Like Lionel and his bowl of questions.
Only not nearly as original.
This whole idea was ripped right out of a bad '90s
movie.
She wants to have sex with you, Sean.
- Plain and simple.
- Why? Because Anne is legendary for exploiting
people's weaknesses to her advantage.
She sees our marriage as my weakness.
Did I get that right? All but the movie reference.
I thought that film was quite decent.
By my calculation, it would take roughly 80 million to
optimize your discovery, assuming proof of concept.
That's not the kind of investment I'm comfortable
making without a guarantee that the woman in charge
is willing to put whatever is necessary on the line to
ensure its success.
In this case a night alone with her husband.
My offer expires in 24 hours.
What's your name? - Valerie Simmons.
- Valerie I see you're wearing the same mint Chanel
they put me in for my Forbes spread back in What was
it? 2015? Yes, Miss Montgomery.
Stand up, sweetie.
My lawyers are currently waging a libel suit against
that dated rag's former editor, and had you done the
slightest bit of research, you might have reconsidered
wearing that embarrassing cry for attention, as all
you've succeeded in doing today is exposing your own
inadequacy.
It's incredible.
Eighteen million views in three days.
Don't do this to yourself.
What kind of person gets off on making others feel
stupid and powerless and disposable? A shitty one.
It's weird not having Castro here.
I'll meet up with Marcos between shifts and pick him
up tomorrow.
No, I'll do it.
Tell me again how everything's gonna be okay.
Everything is going to be okay.
Castro! Come here, Castro! Oh, hi.
How much I missed you! You and Sean live it up like
rock stars the other night? You know it.
After a few drinks, we got to talking about Lionel's
challenge and decided to order half a dozen couples
up to the room.
Only half a dozen? - Prude.
- Oh, yeah? I remember when the most risqué thing
in your closet was a pinstriped Oxford.
Now I'm guessing pleated, leather chaps.
Don't! Don't! Oh.
The things we do for our first boyfriends.
First and last, hopefully.
I want with Lionel what you have with Sean.
What's that, exactly? Total trust.
And you two are invincible no matter what the universe
throws at you.
Yeah, well, the universe has been having a field day
with us recently.
And that brings me to my not-so-elegant segue.
Papa would kill me if he knew I was telling you this,
but La Cuchara's been going through a rough patch.
He asked if I knew when you might be able to pay the
loan back.
It's gonna be a while.
How bad is it? Turns out the money they gave you
didn't come from savings.
They got a second mortgage on the restaurant.
If they default they could lose everything.
All my cases have been pro bono this year, so I'm
pretty tapped.
I'd ask Lionel, but he's been No, it's my responsibility,
Marcos.
I will take care of it.
No lo dudo.
I'll never forget the day I met my wife.
For those of you who don't know the story, there's this
spot in Corona Heights Park where my brother and I
used to play catch.
After he died, it kind of became my go-to place for
heavy thinking.
Which I was doing a lot of last year, especially on the
day the Giants told me they weren't picking up my
contract.
Giants suck! No, no.
I had a terrible season, Archer, you know it, I know it,
- the whole city knew it.
- Story's got a happy ending, though.
I'm getting to that, if you'll let me.
So when I get to the park that day I find this incredibly
beautiful really inconvenient grad student sitting on my
bench, working on her biology thesis.
And while there's this massive deadline hanging over
her head, she took pity on a total stranger and let me
share the bench with her.
It wasn't until after the sun went down that I realized
what what started out as one of the toughest days of
my life had turned into one of the best.
If you hadn't let me sit down with you that day, I I have
no idea what my future might have turned into.
Excuse me, sir.
Is this seat taken? Want me to go first? Nah, I got the
cleat.
Todd and I found out we made it into the fire academy
today.
Oh, my God.
That's Intense timing.
I know.
I'm so proud of you.
Thanks, but both our backs are seriously against the
wall right now.
We can't afford a downshift in income.
Even a temporary one, so I I came here to think about
our options.
Everything that's gotten us to this point.
And? And the first thing that popped into my head was
how crazy it is we ever met in the first place.
What if you decided to study at the library that day
instead of here? Or if Todd hadn't gotten called into
work.
I might have been drowning myself at some bar with
him instead of meeting my future wife.
It's a real rabbit hole thinking about the things that had
to go exactly right, stuff that had to go so fucking
terrible to lead us both to this bench at that moment,
on that day.
So I've been sitting here going over what you said
about feeling disposable and Powerless.
Yeah.
So now I guess I'm wondering how you'd feel if we
made a decision to take some power back.
I've been wondering the same thing.
We've both come through a hell of a lot in our lives.
But at least we know we can trust each other to handle
anything.
And I don't think there's any way someone as patently
pathetic as Anne Montgomery has what it takes to get
in between that, not in one night.
Not in one lifetime.
Well we still have a few hours to tell this bitch to go to
hell.
But you and me we're a lot stronger than she thinks
we are.
So are we saying we're good to do this? I am if you
are.
Then let's do it.
Hello, Lisa.
We accept your offer.
I'll send a car.
Why don't you pour yourself a whiskey.
I don't think so.
There's no need to be nervous.
No one said we were.
Sean, come here for a sec.
She wrote a clause into the contract excluding you
from sharing any details about what happens after I
leave here tonight.
If you say anything to me or anyone else, we lose the
company.
Why would either of us ever want to talk about this
again? The quicker we put tonight behind us, the
better.
We just have to trust each other.
It's not you I don't trust.
I assume you saw the space for your company's
routing numbers.
That's why we're here, isn't it? Well, it's certainly why
you're here.
You'll receive a good faith wire transfer totaling a
quarter of my investment, tomorrow morning.
Twenty million dollars.
Hmm.
Well it appears there's only one thing left to do.
Well, two.
Foster, we'll need a witness.
All right.
Sean, may I have your phone, please? Why do you
need his phone? If you're having second thoughts,
now is the time to share them.
Not some desperate text in the middle of the night.
Thank you.
I'll let you say goodbye.
I love you.
I love you.
Oh, keep the pen.
It's one of many.
Come sit with me by the fire.
If it's okay, can we not talk anymore and just do what
you brought me here to do? Well, aren't you just so
sweet and innocent? I haven't even begun to tell you
what it is you're doing here.
In science, one of the first things you learn is that you
can only trust the things that you can prove.
But if any of you guys ask me to offer physical proof of
just how much Sean means to me there's no empirical
way that I could.
And this is what's called the scientific paradox.
Oh, my God.
I am so bad at this.
Um Oh, my God.
Uh What I'm trying to say is Falling in love with Sean
has taught me it's just as important to trust the things
that you can feel as the things you can prove.
Fuck! Hey! Hey! Hello? Can anybody hear me? Fuck.
Sean! Sean! Sean! Call it off! They're gone.
Where did you take them? When I returned, the
residence was empty.
Mrs.
Montgomery? Are you okay? Everything's all right,
Gabriel.
The young lady's under contract.
Keycard, please.
What does she get out of it? Treating people like toys?
What motivates Miss Montgomery is far more
nuanced than I could say.
But I have never seen her waste a minute of time on
anything or anyone so insignificant as a toy.
Hello, Cassidy? Where have you been? Did you get
any of my messages? No, I What's happened? Anne
Montgomery just saved our ass to the tune of $20
million.
That's what happened.
Whatever the hell you did to win her over, it could not
have paid off any huger.
I'll call you back.
Sean.
Are you okay? Hey, buddy.
Your hand What did she ? We're not allowed to talk
about it.
You can if you want to.
The contract isn't triggered until I start spending her
money.
Then start spending it.
Nothing I say now will undo what we did.
Might as well get what you wanted.
What I wanted? Sean, I went back for you.
I tried to stop it.
Say something.
I need to take a shower.
Your breakfast meeting has arrived.
I'll tell 'em you're indisposed.
You think I'm a terrible person, don't you? I think when
you've suffered terrible things you become capable of
terrible things.
Have the staff clear my calendar.
I won't be taking any meetings this morning.

Chapter
[ANNE] Stop acting like you value anyone's interest
above your own, the least of all, your wife's.
[GRUNTS] There's that animal aggression.
You set the clock on your marriage, not me.
I'll give you a minute to reign it in before we continue.
[SHOWER RUNNING IN BACKGROUND] [RATTLES
DOORKNOB] [LISA] Sean? [BREATHING HEAVILY]
Sean? Are you okay? You locked the door.
I'm fine.
[SIGHS] [SHOWER STOPS] [DISTANT POLICE
SIREN] [PHONE VIBRATING] [SEAN CLEARS
THROAT] [EXHALES] [SNIFFLES] Where are you
going? The fire academy orientation's this week.
Todd and I are meeting up before work to prep for the
field test.
Don't you have to head into the lab? [LISA] I'm sorry
for last night, for the position I put you in.
For whatever it was that Anne asked you to do.
You'd tell me, right, if last night isn't something you
think you can put behind you? [SEAN SIGHS] We
went into this together.
We'll get past it together.
I just can't stop my brain from trying to piece together
all the things she must have wanted from you before
she sent that wire.
I think she's counting on that driving a wedge between
us.
She really is a monster.
From now on, I think the less you engage with her, the
better.
[PHONE LINE RINGS] [LISA] Hi, Cass.
[CASSIDY] Are you in some kind of danger? What?
Buried alive, pinned under a bus, or otherwise mortally
incapacitated? No.
Then what's more important than calling me back?
Dude, when are you coming in? Things are moving at
light speed.
Soon.
Just hold off on telling anyone anything until I get
there.
There's a chance this deal won't make.
All we have is a basic agreement in place.
[CHUCKLES] Um, and 20 million in the bank, not to
mention some splashy headlines in the trades.
What trades? What are you talking about? VC Wire?
TechCrunch? Cat's out of the bag! "Montgomery
Capital & Financial Group is all in on Emigen
Molecular Sequencing.
Publicly.
" There's even a badass picture of you.
What did you do, promise her your firstborn? Shit.
I'll see you soon.
[INHALES] Left of center.
What are three words no one's ever used to describe
me? [SECURITY SYSTEM CHIMES] - Buzz her in.
- [DOOR BUZZES] [DOOR OPENS] When did you
send this deal report to the trades? You're the
scientist.
I'm sure you can figure that one out.
So before you had my signature.
[SIGHS] I follow my instincts.
So far, they've been right on target where you're
concerned.
Sean, too.
I spoke to a contract lawyer on my way over here.
She says there's ways out of this for me.
Plenty.
But neither of us believes you really want out -
[GRUNTS] - [GASPS] any more than I believe your act
of desperation last night was a genuine display of
regret.
This is Lisa Donovan, and I need to speak with my
husband right now! Hello? Can anybody hear me? -
[POUNDING ON DOOR] - Sean! Sean! Open the
door! Regret is all I've felt since the moment we met.
I am willing to sever all ties with you, regardless of the
consequences, if that's what I have to do to protect
Sean.
Well, that may be the story that you tell yourself.
But down deep, on an instinctive level you're more
committed than you realize.
Coming back for Sean was a resourceful way to seize
the moral high ground.
Now, whenever things get sticky between you two
you'll always be the one who tried to stop him from
spending the night with another woman.
And your husband will always be the one who went
ahead and did it.
[ANNE] No one forced you into our agreement, Lisa.
Pretending you want out now is just virtue signaling.
Or are you really willing to devalue the memory of your
dead sister, crush the futures of your employees, and
allow all those sick little children to continue to suffer
and die all because their one potential savior in this
unfair world had, what, a moralistic breakdown? Just
so you can go home and tell your husband that you
bartered him for nothing? I didn't I'm not You're not
what? - I'm not what you think I am.
- Maybe not yet.
I'm beginning to see potential.
So why don't we just table this wobbly suggestion that
we undo any binding agreements until after tonight's
event? What event? Oh, I suppose it's really more of
an affair, come to think of it.
So come dressed to impress now that you have the
means.
Four o'clock sharp.
It's non-negotiable.
Oh, and Lisa, don't bring Sean.
Foster, do we still have that agreement with that one
handyman? [FOSTER] All contracts are current.
Schedule him.
[SONOGRAM PULSING] [SIGHS] [INDISTINCT
HOSPITAL ANNOUNCEMENT] Sorry, Doctor.
Chart said the room was clear.
- [PHONE RINGING] - It is.
Hold on.
Dr.
Archer.
Got it, OR 7.
Tell Dr.
Evans I'll be there in two minutes.
Uh, room's all yours, Joel.
[JOEL EXHALES] Dr.
Archer, your keys.
[ANGELA] What happened? [IAN] Got a ruptured
thoracic aneurysm.
I thought Mr.
Turner sailed through surgery this morning.
Add it to the list of things we can't control.
This is gonna be uncharted territory for most of you,
so I'm gonna need you present and I'm gonna need
you sharp.
It's about to get messy.
- Dr.
Chang, step aside.
Dr.
Archer - [CHANG] Yes, sir.
[HEART MONITOR BEEPING] Grab the heart.
- Grab it? - Mm-hmm.
Like it's the last living thing on earth.
Thumbs on either side of the aorta, hold it gentle but
firm so I can suture.
[IAN] Here you go.
Just like that.
[IAN] Hold it steady.
Doing great.
[MAN] Pressure's dropping.
- [FLATLINE] - [ANGELA] Dr.
Evans.
[WOMAN] We're losing him.
[IAN] Gentle compressions.
You got this.
Up and down.
Up and down.
Up and down.
[FLATLINE CONTINUES] Up and down.
There you go.
- [WOMAN] He's coming around.
- [HEART MONITOR BEEPING] - [IAN] Now gently
reset.
- [MAN] We have a rhythm.
[WOMAN] Normal sinus rhythm.
[IAN] Well, life tends to find a way, and today, that way
was you, Dr.
Archer.
Connor, finish up the graph, close Mr.
Turner with the same skill and confidence your fellow
resident showed us.
- Yes, Doctor.
- Excellent work, Angela.
[IAN] You're a natural.
[TODD] Let me get this straight.
Your wife's flailing company gets massively funded
from a billion dollar investor, and your response is to
punch a wall? Ever feel like the life you're living isn't
really under your control? Man, what the hell is wrong
with you these last few days? You're the one who
suggested we trade up to firefighters in the first place.
- Remember? - It's not about me right now.
The fuck, it isn't.
You've been sitting on the sidelines for five years.
It's time for you to start living your dreams again.
Be a different story if it were you and Angela we're
talking about.
Totally different.
Angie's pregnant.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Holy shit.
Are you serious? I didn't know you two were trying
again.
Neither did I.
It's crazy.
- It's crazy, right? - When did she tell you? She hasn't
yet.
Garbage bag broke this morning and a pregnancy
stick fell out.
I mean, I figure she's waiting till dinner tonight.
I don't know.
Wow, that's It's like anyone's world can turn on a dime,
bro.
You just gotta be ready when it does.
[ALL CHANTING] We did it! We did it! We did it! We
did it! [CHEERING] Who are these people? These
people are your people.
Our new lord and savior is springing for a power fluff.
That means new offices, updated labs.
They're gonna knock down this wall for full-time
analytics encoding.
And it gets better.
I've been authorized to clear the balance sheets, pay
our creditors, and make good on all the back salary
we owe to all these people looking at you like you're
crazy for not jumping up and down like you won the
lottery.
- 'Cause you did.
- [LISA] Okay.
- Bring it in.
- Woo! - [WOMAN] Speech! - [MAN] Yeah.
Come on, speech.
- No.
- Come on, you've gotta give something.
Okay, um Yes, we did just receive a much-needed
investment in Emigen's future, but that future is only
possible because all of you committed your
phenomenal talents to getting us to where we are at
this moment.
[EXHALES] Your loyalty is as humbling as it is
inspiring.
To the future.
[ALL] To the future! [ALL WHOOPING] [WOMAN]
Woo! Ow! Your sister would be proud.
Embrace it.
[MARCOS] ¿Qué pasó, papi? My Pac Heights
showing got canceled, so I came home to make you
lunch.
Aw, you're awesome, but unfortunately, I'm already
neck deep in buffalo sauce at that bar by the
courthouse.
[CHUCKLES] The gay bar? - Yeah.
- Trashy.
[LAUGHS] Yeah.
Wanna come help me and my feelings? I'd love to, but
I just scheduled a listing appointment for a houseboat
in Sausalito.
What feelings are on the menu today? [SIGHS] Self-
worth.
The Mendoza case is a mess.
You weren't able to get the father out of detention? Not
before the next hearing which is nine weeks out.
Meanwhile, the family's facing eviction.
I'm gonna see if the DA will give me ten minutes, but
he's being a total dick.
You would've gotten 20 minutes of dick out of me if
you'd been home.
My life.
Don't forget your Dramamine.
Don't forget your antacids.
England's greatest gift to the world club soda.
And if that doesn't work, might wanna lose the shirt
altogether.
Careful what you wish for.
Haven't hit the gym in months.
Look, dad bod with no kids.
Ah, you're underselling yourself.
Hot sauce, hot guy.
I'm Kevin.
I'm in a relationship.
I'm not surprised at all.
You just coming from the courthouse? Get a lot of
bailiffs in here, public defenders, convicts.
Any judges I can blackmail? - We're all judges, aren't
we? - Yeah.
I could feel you judging me from across the room.
You're in a gay bar in the middle of the day, eating hot
wings by yourself.
All rise, the Honorable Kevin something now
presiding.
So what do you do when you're not convicting
strangers for bar crimes? Dance on a box in my
underwear.
You're serious? Mm-hmm.
Wow, that's, uh Good for you.
I couldn't even dance fully clothed with a room full of
people staring at me.
Ah, it makes it a lot easier when they're stuffing 20s
into your boots.
You should try it one night.
[LAUGHS] Yeah.
Just hop up on the box and be yourself.
Whatever that means.
You'd make a killing.
Regular guys are everything right now.
Oh, gee, thanks.
- [KEVIN LAUGHS] - Afraid I'm not a big fan of
attention.
Or money, apparently.
Most of my cases are pro bono.
Huh.
So that's what motivates you? Truth, justice, the
American way? Yeah.
Pretty lame, huh? Pretty sexy, actually.
I go on at 10:00.
Come back with your boyfriend.
We'll have some fun.
[MARCOS CHUCKLES] I have looked everywhere I
could possibly think of for those keys.
Hopefully somebody will turn them in.
Sorry, Mr.
Willis.
They say a great surgeon has to have the eyes of an
eagle, the heart of a lion, and the hands of a woman.
You okay? Yeah, I'm just a little lightheaded from
everything.
I have never held a human heart before.
Well, at least a beating one.
How'd it make you feel? Cradling a man's mortality in
your hands.
I was scared at first.
Then powerful.
[CHUCKLES] Two of the most important days of your
life, the day you're born, and the day you find your
purpose.
And I feel like I had the whole purpose thing figured
out until I met you.
- Ian - Mm-hmm.
There's something I need to tell you.
[TODD] Angie, baby, are you decent? Your EMT
soon-to-be SFFD love nugget is in the house Whoa.
Sorry there, Chief.
Uh, it's chief of surgery, actually.
Dr.
Ian Evans.
You must be Angela's old high school boyfriend.
And current husband.
I can't imagine you've changed a whole heck of a lot,
have you? [ANGELA CHUCKLES] What are you
doing here, Todd? You were gone before I woke up,
so I thought I'd check in with you while Sean gets his
hand X-rayed.
What happened to Sean's hand? He punched a wall
or whatever.
Jesus.
What is this, high school? Oh, it is, according to the
chief.
Dr.
Evans seems like quite the asshole.
No wonder you've been coming home all bent up
lately.
Which is why I made a rezzy at that new dim sum
place around the corner tonight.
Something I really need to talk to you about.
- Yeah, I need to talk to you, too.
- Look at us.
Making plans to share and converse like proper
adults.
Ain't nothing high school about that.
Hey, Ange.
I'm damn proud of you.
Don't stand me up tonight.
- I won't.
- Eight o'clock.
[DOOR OPENS] [DOOR CLOSES] [CABLE CAR
BELL RINGING] - - [KEYBOARD CLACKING] [SEAN]
I I I know my behavior hasn't really reflected what this
team or this sport or what what I'm about.
That goes the same for those hearing [CLEARS
THROAT] hearing the noise from the stands - -
favorable to what you put out there.
- - [ECHOING] I just want everyone to know I'm - -
[KEYBOARD CLACKING] [GRUNTS] [GRUNTING]
[DOOR LOCK CLICKS] [DOOR CLOSES] Somebody
sent you that link, didn't they? Huh? No.
That was porn.
Great.
Glad to see you're back to your old self.
Well, what about you? How you feeling? Tired.
Who knew actively not thinking about something could
be so draining? What link were you talking about?
Anne sent out a huge press release announcing her
investment in Emigen.
She's like a asteroid that just keeps slammin' into me.
You worried she's gonna mess up your company?
Actually, it appears her intentions are exactly what she
said, to make a big success out of us, only dealing with
her is like playing chess with a supercomputer.
She seems to know my thoughts before they've even
formed.
Which is why I need you to come with me tonight.
- Come with you where? - Back to Anne's.
Hell, no.
You said it yourself, the less contact the better.
That was before she expressly told me not to invite
you.
Two can play at Jedi mind-voodoo.
No, actually, no one can.
Those two metaphors should never be mixed.
I think that it's important that we show Anne, in spite
of her best efforts to rattle us, that you and I remain
solid, and that she holds exactly zero power over us
moving forward.
[SIGHS] I bought you something to wear tonight.
Before you knew I'd say yes? Don't worry, I'm
expensing it.
So technically, she's paying for it? Maybe two really
can play Jedi mind-voodoo.
[SIGHS] Okay.
[SIGHS] [DOOR BUZZER] Hello, Mrs.
Donovan.
Right on time.
Though I was told it would just be you this evening.
Please inform your employer that my husband will be
joining me for whatever she has planned tonight, or
she can count both of us out.
As you wish.
Please, come in.
[SCRATCHING NOISE] [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Okay.
I'll let them know.
Where is everyone? My employer agrees to your
terms.
- Follow me.
- Follow you where? Up.
[HELICOPTER ENGINE WHIRRING] [AVERY]
Everything's all set.
Would you like things to begin immediately, or should
I bring her to you first? Bring them both.
She's not alone.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER] [PILOT] Visual
approach, preparing to land.
Hello, welcome.
Hello, Lisa.
Avery? Welcome to Miss Montgomery's vineyard.
Uh, this is my husband, Sean.
No introduction necessary.
Been a Giants fan my whole life.
Thought you'd be one of the greats.
Yeah, well, things don't always work out the way you
plan.
Which isn't categorically a bad thing.
Can't imagine Lisa saw herself working side-by-side
with Anne Montgomery a week ago.
Can't imagine you did either.
- Touché.
- [LISA] What am I doing here? Inspiring people.
A whole lot of lives are about to change because of
you.
You're going to have to be a lot clearer than that.
I'll let Anne explain.
Miss Montgomery, I give you your protégée.
I'm not a protégée, I'm a scientist.
Well, now that we've gotten the pleasantries out of the
way, let's get to the business of building a company.
Avery, would you join the candidates in the courtyard?
We'll be along shortly.
What candidates? For your new board of directors.
I'm giving you your pick of the brightest bioethicists,
code wizards, data experts, and pharmaceutical
chemists on the coast.
I already have my team.
Farm league.
You're in the majors now.
You remember what that's like, right, Sean? That's all
in the past.
Lisa and I are focused on our future.
The former tends to inform the latter.
Why do this here? We already know you're obscenely
rich.
The setting is not meant to impress you.
It's meant to impress the candidates, get them talking
about our company, start a buzz.
Your office, as I'm told, would inspire the wrong
conversation.
You'll forgive all this shop talk, Sean.
When I asked your wife to leave you at home, I was
attempting to spare you, not punish you.
This is expressly a work function.
You called it an affair.
Hm.
A slip of the tongue.
Cheers.
[DOOR OPENING] ["A LITTLE RESPECT" PLAYING]
Marcos? A little something to make me sweeter Oh
baby refrain From breaking my heart I'm so in love with
you I'll be forever blue That you give me no reason
Why you make me work so hard That you give me no
That you give me no Hey, queen! Shit.
Scared the fuck out of me, Lionel.
Trust me.
Anyone busting in on whatever this is was coming out
more traumatized than you.
I thought you weren't getting home till later.
It is later.
Are you ? Are you drunk? No.
I - Sort of.
- Uh-huh.
[LAUGHING] What is all this? I met a guy at the bar
this afternoon.
He reminded me of you.
This you.
That me was locked in a box for a reason.
[CHUCKLES] - Who's this guy? - Kevin something.
He dances on a box.
Speaking of boxes tonight, in fact.
I'm beginning to get the picture.
Didn't seem to give a damn what anyone thought of
him.
Devilish grin, little twinkle in his eye Same as [CLICKS
TONGUE] [LIONEL] My God, what a mess.
[LAUGHING] - Still, I'd fuck me.
- Where'd you learn to be like that? Like what? Young,
dumb, full of cum? No, like How you are, I guess.
I feel like I'm just waking up at 30 and missed half my
life, like it's all been meaningless.
You're the kind of guy who would set himself on fire to
keep others warm.
It's the opposite of meaningless.
It's also why I love you.
I don't want to wake up at the end of my life and not
have a box.
[CHUCKLES] Get in the shower.
I'm taking you out.
- Where we going? - To see about a boy on a box.
[ANNE] There are reasons I chose not to venture into
the biotech space prior to this moment.
High-risk, unpredictable returns, government red tape,
made it all seem more trouble than it was worth.
Until fate stepped in to bring Lisa Ruiz-Donovan,
Emigen's founder, to my attention.
Her personal story, combined with her ambitious
vision and brilliant mind, have made a true believer of
an admitted skeptic.
I wish you all luck in proving your worthiness to join
not only Lisa's company, but her cause.
All right, yeah? There you go.
That's some skill, being able to speak off-the-cuff like
that.
It's only difficult if you don't believe what you're saying.
Truth is the great equalizer.
[ANNE] The bar is stocked with our best vintage in
every category.
Though I'd avoid the 2012s.
Rough year.
Oh, it seems I'm needed.
Might I suggest that you stand back and let Lisa do
what she needs to do unencumbered.
I always have.
And be sure to take in the view.
It's truly one of a kind.
- [WOMAN] Donovan! - [CLUB MUSIC PLAYING] -
Hey.
- Time for a body shot.
Nah, Maddie, spring training.
Ugh! I forgot.
Hot shot rookie wants to score a home run! [TODD]
Damn, Maddie.
Over here, over here.
If you buy me another shot of tequila, you might even
get a grand slam.
I think you've had enough for tonight.
[SCOFFS] Ex-boyfriends don't get to tell ex-girlfriends
shit.
That is a rule, you can look it up.
[MOANS] [SHUTTER CLICKS] [TODD] Bad idea, bro.
You're gonna regret this tomorrow.
[MADDIE CHUCKLES] [SIGHS] [MADDIE GRUNTS]
[SIGHS] [SIGHS] Thank you.
Shit! - [SEAN] Maddie? - I'm sorry.
It just slipped.
Oh, my God.
Sean fucking Donovan.
I I can't believe it.
What are you doing here? You're not ? Are you trying
to get into this tech thing? 'Cause I don't really
remember math and science being your jam.
I'm here to support my wife.
Oh.
Which one is she? Um She started the company.
Wow.
You really traded up.
What are you doing here? Working, obviously.
Haven't seen or talked to you in over five years.
You want me to believe that out of all the times and
places you could have surfaced, this is the time and
place? No, it makes far more sense that after five
years, I suddenly decided to stalk you at some fucked
up rich bitch party by pretending to be a klutzy ass
cater waiter.
- Maddie, I didn't mean - You can believe what you
want, Sean.
But I stopped giving a shit what you think about me a
long time ago.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Sorry I'm late.
- Oh, it's okay.
I'm just glad you were able to shake free from the
hospital.
That place is like a black hole these days.
You've been really patient.
Hey, you've been working your ass off.
It's the least I can do.
Here you go.
- Oh, thanks.
- Hi.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Dim sum serious thoughts going on behind them
pretty eyes.
Todd, um Look, Ange, you and me, we've never been
that couple keeping secrets from each other.
We're coming up on ten years together, and I'm not
starting all that bullshit now.
So let me start this conversation.
I stumbled on a EPT stick in the garbage a couple
days ago.
I know you're pregnant.
Now, I know this wasn't the plan and that things at
work are brutal right now, trying to snag one of those
attending spots with Dr.
Dickhead breathing down your neck.
So I get why you hid it.
And look, I admit, it's not great timing.
All right, again.
But at least we're prepared for however things might
play out this time.
But I wouldn't be honest with you if I didn't say how
much I really wanted a chance to actually see it play
out.
Babe, it's not that simple.
I know that.
I watched you fight to come back from what happened
the first time.
You weren't alone then, and you're not alone now.
Talk to me.
Today in surgery I held a patient's life in my hands.
Literally, a person's life.
And if I would have screwed up all the lives that man
had touched, they would have been devastated
forever.
And it would have been my fault.
But you didn't screw up.
Did you? And now, all those lives are now filled with
gratitude and meaning, because you were able to give
the guy they love a second chance.
Now you and I have a second chance at a family.
I'm just asking you to let me in on where your heart's
at.
I feel like I'm at a fork in the road, and I I don't know
which way to go.
And I'm telling you whichever path you choose, I want
to be right by your side.
[PULSING DANCE MUSIC PLAYING] [INDISTINCT
CHATTER] - I'm guessing that's your guy.
- You're my guy.
Good answer.
Let's do this.
Thought the going rate was 20.
Hey, hot sauce.
As a wise man with a mouth full of chicken wings once
pointed out, money shouldn't be your main motivator.
But this is America.
Thank you, sexy.
So, where's this alleged boyfriend of yours? Not so
alleged.
Sneaky.
I like that.
We We balance each other out.
Kevin, Lionel.
Lionel, Kevin.
I understand you really made an impression on my
man today.
Impression is mutual.
So, what are we up to tonight, fellas? Well, the night's
young, the bar's crowded we're keeping our options
open.
Always a good plan.
You know where to find me.
[AVERY] Feeling good? [LISA] Yeah.
A little overwhelmed.
More than a little understandable.
There's about 200 combined years of doctorate-level
education here tonight.
I gotta say, though, out of all those stars in their fields,
yours shines the brightest.
You don't have to do that.
Do what? Try so hard.
What can I say? You make me want to.
I knew you were destined for greatness the day you
came in to pitch my dickhead former boss.
Makes a lot more sense now.
What does? You're the one who told Anne about me.
Got fired because of it.
- You seem to have landed on your feet.
- We both did.
I think we got everyone covered.
Communications officers, legal analysts, and
bioethicists.
Oh, my! "Oh, my.
" The Wizard of Oz? [CASSIDY] Seriously? Okay,
that's fine.
It's a long ride back to the city if you're not taking the
chopper.
Tell me, in one of the 300 rooms in Anne's fortress of
solitude - there's a toilet.
- Superman, right? Uh, top of the stairs.
Okay.
I'm gonna take my notes on the board candidates on
my way back.
Saw one lady sniffin' her pits, and another gentleman
staring at a bowl of fruit for approximately seven
minutes.
Hmm.
Other than that, a pretty stellar group of geniuses.
Tell Anne I worship her.
That CFO of yours, she's like She's like family.
Very good at her job.
[LISA] I wouldn't be talking to you if she weren't.
You ready for Anne? She's gonna wanna know where
your head's at.
Give me one minute.
Sean.
You okay? Yeah.
Tired.
It's been a long few days.
That is the understatement of a lifetime.
This thing almost over? Just about.
So what are you thinking? Is this gonna work between
you and Anne, or was it all a terrible mistake? If you're
asking if I'd agree to her deal if we had to do it all over
again, the answer is no.
But if you're asking if I think at some point the greater
good has a chance of winning out, then I have to
concede that, yeah it's entirely possible.
Without Anne, Emigen is dead.
With her, it has a fighting chance.
[MADDIE] The famous wife.
Lisa, this is Maddie.
Maddie and I went to high school together.
Yeah.
High school.
And prom.
And occasionally under the bleachers.
Donovan here racked up so many trophies in high
school, I bet he never expected to become one.
He's not.
I just find it so inspiring.
A woman running her own company in Silicon Valley?
All these smart people? I feel like I'm talking to a real
life celebrity.
[CHUCKLES] [SHUTTER CLICKS] [MADDIE
CHUCKLES] Good luck to you, Mrs.
Donovan.
It's a big, bad world out there.
[INDISTINCT HOSPITAL ANNOUNCEMENT] Hello.
Dr.
Evans.
You're working late.
Do we know each other? No.
I mean, everyone knows who you are, but you don't
There's no reason you'd know me.
I'm up on the fourth floor.
Are the residents all gone for the night? Do you see
any residents here? No.
Sorry to bother you.
[SIGHS] Dr.
Archer left her keys in the imaging lab this morning.
I'll get her number off the crew sheet.
Stop.
Why don't you just leave 'em with me.
Dr.
Archer and I are performing an esophagectomy
tomorrow.
I'll make sure she gets the keys and I'll make sure that
you, Joel, - get the credit.
- Thanks.
Yeah.
You know what? Um Where'd they turn up? She was
looking all over for 'em.
Sonogram 3.
Upstairs? - Yes.
- What time? 9:25.
I know because the room was booked for Dr.
Brian Thank you.
[JOEL SIGHS] [PULSING DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]
[CROWD CHEERING] So, Kevin? I know, what'd I tell
you? No, you told me he reminded you of me.
That's a blue-eyed white boy up there, Marcos.
[BOTH LAUGHING] I meant personality-wise.
Uh-huh.
You don't like him? I I wouldn't go that far.
We gotta see what's under those shorts first.
Uh You wanna invite him back? Uh is that what you
thought I meant? I'm just trying to help you fill up that
dusty-ass cardboard box of yours.
[BOTH LAUGH] What if it's awkward? We talk about
it.
What if one of us likes it him more than the other? We
talk about it.
What if you're both into more kinky shit than me? We
talk about it.
Only one rule that matters: we stop being able to talk
about it, we stop doing it.
[SNAP FINGERS] - What's this? - Our address.
You want him? Go get him.
[DANCE MUSIC PLAYS LOUDLY] [CROWD
CHEERING] [LAUGHING] [INAUDIBLE]
[CHUCKLES] [ANNE] You've made some excellent
choices tonight, Lisa.
I'm encouraged.
Though I am gonna push back on that CFO of yours,
Cassidy Barrett.
It was Cassidy's impression, as well as mine, that she
was brought here tonight to assist me in my decision
making, not for an audition.
Impressions are subjective.
It's come to my attention that you consider this woman
to be a friend.
Like family, I believe? [SIGHS] Yes.
We've known each other since undergrad.
Well, that comes with its own set of problems.
If she goes I go.
Your call.
Moving on.
Chief operating officer.
There won't be any equivocating here.
The position is too vital.
Then you ought to be satisfied with my selection.
I choose Avery.
Mr.
Watkins is otherwise employed.
Mr.
Watkins was also otherwise employed when I met
him.
Technically, I saw him first.
[LISA] Why don't we let him decide? The day I met
Lisa she presented an extraordinary vision for how to
change the future of medicine.
You can have him.
So, are we done here, or do we need to revisit the
discussion that you began in my private residence this
morning? No.
We're done.
Foster, my husband and I would like to go home now.
Yes, please, Foster, will you drive Lisa and Sean back
to the city? I'll fly back with Mr.
Watkins so we can discuss my expectations for his
new position.
Privately.
[WHISPERING] It wasn't a coincidence the night Anne
propositioned you at the bar.
What do you mean? She already knew about my
company.
Avery called her after my pitch that day.
- So what the hell is she doing? - I don't know yet.
But if that wasn't a coincidence at the bar, then maybe
it wasn't a coincidence that your high school girlfriend
Maddie was working the party tonight.
I thought Anne told you not to bring me here.
Chess.
Remember? [COMPUTER BEEPS] [PULSING] Hello,
little one.
Disappointed? Are you kidding? I'm lying naked next
to the man of my dreams.
You're getting really good at this boyfriend thing.
I lucked into a great teacher.
[MARCOS MOANS SOFTLY] [KNOCKING AT
DOOR] Wanna get that? No.
Want me to? ["MURDERER" PLAYING] [DOOR
OPENS] They say it just appears Right in front of you
It cuts right through the trees That seem to Always
block the view - [MOANING] - Your eyes will tell the
truth When you don't want them to [MOANING]
[MOANING] [CAR JOSTLES] Welcome back.
How long was I out? All the way.
Just got home.
Can I Would you mind if I went by the office? - Right
now? It's pretty late.
- I know.
I just got inspired.
[CHUCKLES] I know better than to stand in the way of
that.
- You want me to go with? - No.
Poor Castro hasn't been out all night.
It shouldn't take me more than an hour or two.
If you're inspired, you're inspired.
Foster, would you mind dropping Sean off first and
then taking me by my office? I'm at your service.
[MOUTHING] I love you.
[MOUTHING] I love you.
- [SEAN] I'll see you soon.
- Mm-hmm.
[DISTANT POLICE SIREN] [LAPTOP BOOTS UP]
[TIRES SCREECHING] [PANTING] [SECURITY
BEEPS, DOOR UNLOCKS] [ANNE LAUGHS] [ANNE]
Okay! I don't know about that.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER] [ANNE LAUGHS] [ANNE
SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY] [CHUCKLES] She's on a
roll tonight.
[ANNE] Oh, God.
Hope you're not here to punch another wall.
My handyman just left.
[SEAN] Where did you find her? - Who? - Maddie
Carter! Oh, the clumsy waitress with the ax to grind.
Well, I can tell you it wasn't a pretty picture.
But she cleans up nice, don't you think? Why are you
doing this? What do you want from me? I think we
pretty well covered that the other night.
It's no longer about what I want from you.
It should be about what you want for your wife.
The past always gives up its secrets, one way or
another.
[PHONE RINGING] What kind of lie are you gonna tell
her tonight, Sean? [RINGING CONTINUES] [SOFT
MUSIC PLAYING] [SCREAMING]

Destination wedding

[jazz music playing]

[people chattering]
[man on TV] Why wouldn't we
bring up the first amendment?
We have to stick to the constitution.
That is what made this country.
[group chattering, indistinct]
- [hocking phlegm]
- [TV continues in background]
[woman exhaling]
Don't die.
Come on, photosynthesis.
[jet engines whooshing]
[female announcer over PA,
indistinct]
- That's a nice dress.
- Oh. Thank you.
- I like your jacket.
- Thanks.
- I hope our flight's on time.
- Oh, it is. See?
This airline has an excellent
arrival-departure record.
Um, I Googled it.
And, um, it has a 98...
No 96,
no 98 percent approval...
online user
approval rating.
Which is very incredibly
high, obviously.
Um, and Rancho Cucamonga
Mary sent me three,
who I trust implicitly,
was very effusive about it.
- Yeah.
- And you get a snack.
Great.
[woman on PA continues,
indistinct]
- I'm sorry, what was that?
- What?
You just took
a step forward there.
- I didn't.
- Yeah, you did. You know you did.
- I didn't realize.
- Oh, I see.
I beg your pardon?
- I s-see what you did. I know what you did. It's...
- What did I do?
You came up alongside me, you know, with
your jacket and your face and charm,
and you just, you know, talked to
me for a strategic amount of time,
established your position,
and then just casually, blatantly
stepped in front of me.
Like I had
some sort of amnesia
and couldn't remember 15 seconds in
the past when you were behind me.
- Untrue.
- [scoffs]
Oh my... You just
did it again.
This is like watching a
master at work in his dojo.
- I mean...
- Here's what happened.
I came to my gate, hoping
my flight was on time.
I then attempted to start
a pleasant conversation,
whereupon you revealed the tip of
the iceberg of your tendencies,
and I was forced to take a step
forward to escape the vortex.
Oh, my God.
Oh... Again! Oh!
And now you're casting me as the author
of a Byzantine conspiracy theory
of a Machiavellian land grab
designed to usurp your position on
an aircraft that has eight seats.
You know what? Okay.
That's cra... If I'm wrong, just step in
back of me instead of in front of me.
No, because that would mean
going past you again.
[scoffs]
I see. You know what?
Five years ago, I would have said
something trite like, "Chivalry is dead."
But this is worse
than unchivalrous.
This is... You are
part and parcel of a world
that no longer has any
idea how to behave itself.
In fact, I draw a straight
line between people like you
to investment bankers to
politicians to terrorists.
You basically all have the same contempt
for decency and rules and any manners.
And what's funny is there's
no way you can board first
because the only way you could board
first is if you had a special need.
Do you have
a special need?
Yes, I need
to be over there.
[scoffs]
[woman on PA continues,
indistinct]
[sighs]
Fucker.
[sighs]
- Fantastic.
- Wonderful.
- Anybody want to trade seats?
- You're ridiculous.
Anybody?
It's great back here.
[sighs] You've got
to be kidding me.
Jesus.
What brings you
to San Luis Obispo?
- You don't have to.
- What?
Talk. Honestly, I'd be
happier if you didn't.
Fine.
[loud crinkling]
[loud crinkling]
Dear God.
Tear it at the notch.
There is no notch.
- Give it to me.
- I'm not giving you...
Give it to me.
This one does not appear
to have a working notch.
Yeah.
Yeah.
All that...
Thank you.
[both groan]
I'm actually
going to Paso Robles.
They call it Paso "Roables."
Well, the correct
pronunciation is Robles.
But they call it "Roables."
- Whatever.
- I hope it's a big place.
It isn't.
If I see you at a restaurant,
I'll go to another restaurant.
I'm not going to be
in any restaurants.
Why? Are you checking
into a mental institution?
I'm going to that most presumptuous
of all things, a destination wedding.
Please don't tell me
it's Keith and Anne's.
How many weddings
can there possibly be
on any given day
in Paso Robles?
I was praying for two.
And I was blaming Satan
for my seat assignment
when it was actually
just Keith's assistant.
And how do you know
the esteemed Keith?
I was engaged to him
six years ago.
- Oh, my God, you're Lindsay.
- Why, how do you know him?
He and I have
the same mother.
Holy shit,
you're Frank?
Oh, you're even worse
than he said.
You too.
[groans]
[loud slam]
Oh, my God.
Serious...
[mouthing]
[exhales]
- There was supposed to be a car.
- Our flight was early.
Really?
It seemed so long.
[man on PA] Attention, passengers,
increased security measures
require all passengers
to maintain
close personal contact
with your bags at all times.
[man on PA continues,
indistinct]
So how much do you know about what
happened between me and Keith?
I know that he broke off your engagement
five weeks before the wedding.
And now I know why.
He said some shit
about you, boy.
- Like what?
- Doesn't matter.
Don't do that, don't dangle an injurious
tidbit and then snatch it away.
Or what, I'll die alone?
Keith is a panhandling
piece of garbage,
and you're better off
without him.
Which is saying something,
considering how bad off you are.
Just pity the bride,
whoever she is.
- You haven't met her?
- Just like I never met you.
I stay as far away
from Keith as I can.
My mother insisted I turn up for this shit show,
otherwise, I wouldn't be meeting you now.
Isn't that nice
to think about?
She said it's important to show
up because if you show up,
the worst they can say is you're
horrendous, which is subjective.
But not showing up
is objective.
Well, you showed up.
Why would you come
to his wedding?
He broke your heart,
as I recall.
Shattered, yes.
Didn't you wind up
suing him?
Well, I needed to lash out.
Plus he cost my parents
$32,000 in deposits.
- Did you win?
- There was a settlement.
Did you feel better?
Look, I came
because he invited me.
He only invited you because he
wanted to act like a big person,
not because he, in any way,
wanted you to come.
You think I wanted to come? I'm
just trying to be the big person.
See, this only works if one of
you actually is a big person.
Well, also, I need closure.
You don't have closure?
It was six years ago.
Do I strike you as someone
who has closure?
He's marrying someone else.
That's closure.
It's closed.
Closed is not
the same thing as closure.
[car horn beeps]
Any chance
they sent two cars?
So, what do you do, Frank?
That is, when you're not shining
your light upon the world.
I run marketing
for J.D. Power and Associates.
The "Car of the Year" people?
No, that's a magazine.
I bought one of your cars of the year.
It was a piece of crap.
Again, a magazine.
Common error.
Is that the career
you dreamed of?
Handing out awards
by the fistful?
Hugely successful company,
extremely well-respected.
It's corporate brownnosing
on a national scale.
International.
And don't sleep on awards.
Our country lives
on self-congratulation.
Let me ask you this.
Has there ever been a car
that wasn't a J.D. Power
and Associates Car of the Year?
We don't do "Car of the
Year." That's a magazine.
I've seen those
Lucite trophies.
They're on every car commercial
for every car, ever.
[sighs]
What do you do anyway?
I prosecute companies
and institutions
for culturally insensitive
actions or speech.
You're the politically
correct police.
[laughs] No.
You parse what people say and
do, and then accuse them
of being racist or misogynist
or otherwise horrible.
You destroy lives
and reputations for money.
[scoffs]
No.
Is that what you dreamed of?
A career in reverse fascism?
I can't remember dreaming.
[key clatters]
[exhaling]
[TV chattering]
Wrong!
I thought this was my closet.
Are you expecting
a response of some kind?
No.
Uh, I see now that there
is a bolt on the door.
So, we should use it.
Yep.
[Frank hocking phlegm]
[bolt clicks]
[TV continues]
[bolt clicks]
[hocking phlegm]
[man] Oh, my good girl
Looking this fancy
Pretty little mama
Like a lot of table dancin'
I want to pop a bottle
But she just keep dancin'
We gonna keep it up
Till the top of the morning
Hey, everybody
Take a look at that body
Fine derriere
That's a whole lot of hotty
[music fades]
- How's your room?
- I'm just sleeping there.
How's yours?
I'll let you know after I run
a UV light over the sheets.
We really shouldn't
speak anymore.
If you think that's best.
Do you think Keith
is trying to fix us up?
Even he is smarter
than that.
I don't know.
I mean, same flight.
Seated next to each other
on the plane.
Adjoining rooms.
Seated next to each other here.
You think that's
all just coincidence?
Keith has never had a thought
about another human being.
So we're just the people
you don't know where to stick?
Might as well
just stick us together.
I don't want to be a person
you don't know where to stick.
That is not the life
I imagined for myself.
I'm sure your next life
will be better.
Welp, here we go.
So that's her.
Yep.
She is a tall glass
of hemlock.
- She's Danish.
- Dutch, I thought.
Danish.
From Denmark.
I know where
Danish are from.
He looks the same
as he used to.
Plastic people don't age.
Well, I was hoping he had.
I was hoping he'd be less attractive
or on his way to obesity.
Is this the first time you've seen
him since the crushing ending?
- Is it bad?
- Yep.
- As bad as you feared?
- Yeah. Worse.
- How can this be the way the species is set up?
- I'm sorry?
How can we be allowed
to feel so much for people
who don't feel
anything for us?
You're assuming that you're
normal, which is hilarious.
- It's incredibly cruel.
- Well, look at it this way.
For a time, you carved out a place in his life
when there really shouldn't have been one.
That makes me a dipshit.
I agree.
I was just humoring you.
The truth is,
from puberty on in,
we should all just
be playing defense.
- "On in"? On in to what?
- Death.
- Oh, God.
- Officer on deck.
- [Frank] So you got to know Mom.
- [Lindsay] Plenty well enough.
[Frank]
So you met her twice.
[groans]
Howard.
- [Frank] Oh, this fucking guy.
- [Lindsay] Who's he with?
[Frank] His girlfriend.
Howard left your mother?
"Left" is not
a strong enough word. Fled.
- [Lindsay] For an older woman?
- [Frank] He would have left for an otter.
- Anyway, leaving is leaving.
- No, no.
Leaving for a younger woman
is awful, it's horrible.
But leaving for an older
woman is perverse.
[Frank] Mom would have been just
as angry about a younger one.
[Lindsay] Yeah, but she would've
been able to use her age
to rail against
a gender-unfair society.
I mean, leaving for a younger
woman's the least he could've done.
My father left her
for a younger woman.
She can think about that,
when she wants to cheer up.
But she and your father eventually
made peace though, didn't they?
Yep. Dad jumped out
a seventh-floor window,
and Mom considered them
all square.
- I'm sorry?
- Don't be.
I was not a fan.
Well, you're not a fan of
many people, is my sense.
Well, this person
shot me, so...
- He shot you?
- He did.
He said I was the embodiment
of all his bad choices.
- Did it hurt?
- Did it hurt?
Is that a serious question?
There's a metal missile
going into your body.
Yes, it hurt.
It hurt a great deal.
Well, what did you do?
I ran at him.
You ran at him?
Why didn't you
run away from him?
That didn't occur to me.
I was pissed off.
He tried to shoot me again,
but he missed.
I got the gun out of his hand, hit him in
the face with it, broke his orbital bone.
- What did he do?
- He cried.
Begged me to kill him.
I wouldn't.
Not because I didn't want to, but because
I didn't want to fuck up my life.
I mean, any more
than it already was.
Turned out I didn't
have to kill him though,
because that night,
he jumped.
It's quite a family.
Nobody's arguing.
[Lindsay] You can't call a
78-year-old woman your "girlfriend."
It's ridiculous.
[Frank]
What should I call her then?
I don't know. An ossified,
pre-dead corpse-friend?
Is that in the politically
correct handbook?
I'm off the clock.
She just needs a little
more hair and makeup.
[Lindsay] I think we passed
a mortician on the way in.
Travel with her
on your arm,
you'd better know where the
funeral parlors are at all times.
[Lindsay] And by "On your arm,"
you mean both figuratively
and for actual
physical support.
- I've never met her.
- Better hurry.
I guess the heart wants
what the heart wants.
[Lindsay] Or whatever the
pacemaker says it can have.
[Frank] Apparently,
they went to the same college.
She was a senior
when he was a freshman.
Well, she's a senior again.
[laughs]
- Are you gonna say hello?
- Yep. Are you?
Yep.
[clears throat]
Have a nice time.
[dance music playing
in background]
[rap music begins playing]
Everybody, everybody
Hands in the air
We're rocking with the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
Rocking with the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
[groans]
With the beats
That I'm dropping
Rocking with the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
Party will be rocking With
the beats That I'm dropping
Party will be rocking With
the beats That I'm dropping
Party will be rocking With
the beats That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
With the beats
That I'm dropping
- You okay?
- Nope. You?
I'm all fucked up
and I always will be.
You think anyone will notice
if I... go back to the hotel?
Nope.
Yeah.
All right.
[chuckles]
Psst.
[whispering] I mean, not to throw
stones, but he has a lot going on.
I mean... I mean, I know
I have mine,
but my father
never shot me.
I don't think he ever
even touched a gun.
I mean, there was that one time I
put those two boxes of Band-Aids
on my doll and he,
like, barely patted me.
Like, you couldn't
even call it a spanking.
It was like... He was
apologizing forever for it.
And he still feels bad.
I mean, seven floors.
I wonder if there was more
floors he could of just gone up
so he could die instantly.
Not like...
[groans]
Can you die... How many...
I don't know. I guess
it depends on the building.
Very, very...
Just psychologically,
it's just interesting, but...
[mutters, indistinct]
[woman on TV]
You don't think.
He stole from me, from his
employer, from Katherine March.
[man on TV] My wife... I mean
my former wife is correct.
I really can paint.
My copies were so bad
I had to destroy them.
[woman on TV]
For God's sake, he's lying.
Because he's left-handed,
you idiot.
[man on TV] He told me
Miss March painted them.
- In my expert opinion...
- [TV clicks off]
[same TV program
echoing faintly in next room]
[man on TV] He said he was going to fix
it when he left my place around 2:00 a.m.
That's when I told him...
[continues, indistinct]
[man on TV continues] So he
kills her with my ice pick.
[woman on TV] And I heard her say,
"'Hello, Johnnie' before she hung up."
[man on TV]
He was there all right.
[woman on TV]
Well, what I don't understand
is this talk
about her being an artist.
I never saw her paint.
[man on TV] That was one
of her peculiar traits.
She never let anyone
see her paint.
I would not have guessed, Frank, that you
were a man who enjoyed a foot massage.
I'm not. When I saw the complimentary
chit in the wedding welcome basket,
I thought, "I don't want that.
I'm not comfortable with other
people touching my feet.
I don't see why
it's necessary or good."
Then why are you here?
Because it's a $30 value,
and throwing it away
would have bothered me
even more than this does.
So, you're cheap.
Oh, I'm way worse
than cheap,
especially when it comes to free shit...
I hoard free shit.
Especially
the gray-area free shit,
like the nail files and disposable
slippers in the hotel room.
"Gray area."
I tell myself that they
want me to take it,
that I'm intended
to take it.
Do you take
the shoehorns?
Not the long ones,
only the short ones.
Well, that's not a gray area,
that's theft. You're a thief.
Do you take the shampoo,
conditioner, and body wash?
I used to, but then one
leaked in my suitcase.
Huh. What about the soaps?
Not the round soaps
wrapped in paper.
But the bigger ones,
in the boxes? Yes, I do.
So, you're a minor person
with grubby hands.
I don't understand how, even after
Keith did what he did to you,
and even in the midst
of the shame of being here,
you can possibly still
be mooning over him.
That's because
you're a monkey
who doesn't understand
the human condition.
Having met you, I understand
why it's a condition.
You don't stop
loving a person
just because
they injure you.
It helps.
- Well, love is not rational.
- Clearly.
But how could you
even like Keith?
- I never said I liked him.
- Then how can you love him?
Love has nothing
to do with like.
- Healthy people would disagree.
- Healthy people are sick.
Isn't there a part of you that just
wants to wish him well and move on?
Mmm... Most of me wants him
to be found in an icy river.
It makes no sense to want the
person you love to be dead.
Because then you'd have no one
left to love except yourself.
Which, in your case,
would be unrequited.
- I really don't want him dead.
- Good.
I want him to have a long life, during
which he is miserable every single day
before slowly
dying of regret.
There are seven billion people
in the world.
So when one of them
behaves badly toward you,
he's actually doing you a great
favor because he's saving you time.
He's telling you that
he's not worth your while.
He's freeing you to say,
"Thank you for the information.
I will now move on to
the 6,999,999,999 other people,
some of whom
may have some value."
And is that what
you've done, Frank?
Just sifted,
calmly and sensibly,
through the entire population,
searching for your soul mate?
No, I have opted out, which
makes me uniquely qualified
to observe and comment
on your situation.
Oh, I am so lucky.
- It was a long time ago.
- Not an eternity.
- You were both very young.
- Old enough to know right from wrong.
Incidentally, I spoke
to the bride last night.
Oh, she does not have the
sense God gave a toaster.
She's a moron, and her breasts
were built on a medical bench.
But she said to tell you that
she hopes you can be friends.
You talked about me?
She didn't give you
a lot of airtime.
She has trouble
stringing sentences together.
And she uses a lot
of personal pronouns,
so you're not always quite sure
who she's talking about.
Well done, Keith.
But if it helps, she said
she's not threatened by you.
Yes, that helps
tremendously.
At least I think
she was talking about you.
[sighs]
She said "her." I'm pretty
sure she meant you.
- Wow. What do you care anyway?
- I don't.
I'm just trying to amuse myself
and get to tomorrow.
Do you care
about anything?
How many times in your life
have you been in love?
Once.
What was it like?
How does anybody drink wine
at 11:00 in the morning?
It's a winery, Frank.
Haven't you ever given out a Car
of the Year award at 11:00?
I can still taste toothpaste.
- You were absolutely right.
- What did you say?
A destination wedding
is presumptuous.
"Please drag your carcass
hundreds of miles
to excessively celebrate
our happiness."
Yeah. "Because our
wedding is so special,
it needs to be
an epic imposition."
"It's far too important to celebrate
in anybody's shit-ass hometown."
"Or on one calendar day. So kindly
give up your entire weekend."
"And spend a fuck-ton of your own
money, over and above the gift."
I bet you loved
the minibar prices.
It's like 80 cents
per cashew.
[Frank] What's hilarious
is that these two
have no idea they're
in a fool's paradise.
You really think that?
I've spent most of my life dodging the
shrapnel from my mother's marriages,
both of which started
with smiles as big as theirs.
Some marriages work out.
Yes, and some people
have six fingers.
So I'm guessing
you're single.
I decided to learn
from my parents' mistakes.
It's a form
of evolution.
Yeah, but you can't blame people for
believing their own lives will be different.
Yes, I can.
It's incredibly egotistical.
It might help you to consider the
idea that heartbreak is pointless,
because if you had
wound up with the person,
eventually, you would've
been miserable anyway.
Actually that does help,
thank you.
No problem.
But don't you believe there's
someone for everyone?
Close.
I believe that there's
nobody for anyone.
[people chattering, laughing]
I wish your mother and Howard's
corpse-friend were playing.
They could try and dislodge
each other's tunnel catheters.
Have you talked
to the corpse-friend?
Briefly. She's dull, and she
needs a week at depilatory camp.
- Maybe she's rich.
- I sure hope so.
[man]
Get her!
Do you ever think
it's a crutch though,
blaming your mother and
father for everything?
When did crutches
get a bad name?
When you have a broken leg,
you need a crutch.
In fact, it would be stupid
not to have a crutch.
Well, yeah,
but broken legs heal.
I mean don't you have
a responsibility to yourself
to eventually cast aside the
crutches and meet new challenges?
If the parent-child bond
is diseased,
you have a better chance of being a
sociopath than of being well-adjusted.
I consider it a triumph
of the will
that there aren't shallow graves
dotting my backyard.
Besides, who are you to talk?
Simple heartbreak like yours should be,
relatively speaking, a piece of cake to get over.
Well, it's not.
I'd rather be strong and ruined
than weak and ruined.
I'm not weak.
I just have hope.
That's the same thing.
- [loud smack]
- [men laughing]
How do you not install steps
or a pathway for this shit?
They warned us. It was
in the Welcome Basket.
This is a fucking
liability nightmare.
That's right,
sue Keith again.
Can't we just get the van
to drive us up?
- We're going 90 feet.
- Well, the heels won't make it.
Then take them off
until we get there.
- I just got a foot massage.
- So?
I'm not gonna show up at my
ex-fianc's wedding with dirty feet.
You can clean them off
at the grape wash.
- Can't you just carry me, please?
- What?
- I can't believe I have to ask.
- What?
- It's 90 feet.
- How much do you weigh?
- Frank.
- I don't want to shed my mortal coil.
Well, if that happens,
you can put me down.
- [Lindsay grunts]
- [Frank coughs]
You have a high,
specific gravity.
Yeah, dense bones.
Really deceptive avoirdupois.
This is the slowest
I've ever been carried.
Oh, dear God, be quiet.
Can you just let me off
at the top though,
so no one sees
that you carried me?
Why? Maybe Keith will get
jealous and rethink everything.
Keith has
forgotten I'm here.
[Frank grunting]
[Frank]
Fuck me.
[sighs]
It's 800 degrees.
Why is the minister
in a seersucker suit?
[Lindsay]
Because he's not a minister.
He's Keith's friend
from college.
Levy, I think his name is.
- Kaplan?
- Kaplan, right.
- Is he wearing makeup?
- Always.
Usually
the Nars Radiant Creamy.
If memory serves,
he's gay.
The correct term is "Effeminate
American." And actually he's pansexual.
What does that mean?
He's attracted
to all genders,
gender identities,
and sexual orientations.
- Come on.
- I'm telling you.
How'd he get the gig?
He fucked the bride
and the groom.
- Which was, like, no big deal.
- Vanilla.
I mean, because he would fuck, for
example, a man who believes he's a woman?
Absolutely.
Or a straight woman who believes
she's actually a gay man?
- Not a day goes by.
- What about hermaphrodites?
[Lindsay]
You'd have to think.
[Frank] They just let anyone
officiate at weddings?
Not anyone. You need a credit
card and an Internet connection.
- You researched this?
- Oh, I researched everything.
I knew where
we would buy a house,
where our kids would be born,
where they'd go to school.
I knew where we'd be buried.
Do you become a clergyman in
an online church of some sort?
No, you can
just do weddings.
- Not baptisms?
- No.
- Funerals? Bar Mitzvahs?
- Just weddings.
- How many believers does he have?
- No believers. No congregation.
- Does his church preach that there's a heaven?
- Ain't got no church.
Why would anyone have my
mother as the maid of honor?
[Lindsay] I don't know. It's like having
the Grim Reaper at your CAT scan.
If I had a nickel for every time she
said to me, "I am not your maid."
- Was she born during the Great Depression?
- No, she caused it.
- You know who I feel sorry for?
- Yourself?
Anne's father.
Why? He's the only one here
who wasn't married to my mother.
Because once upon a time, he was the Most
Important Male Person In Anne's Life,
the "M.P.I.A.L." if you will.
I will, but only
if I have to.
It's dangerous for a father
to pass that mantle.
Just because he's Danish doesn't mean
he was fucking his own daughter.
In a very real sense,
by virtue of cultivating
a healthy, loving relationship with
her, showing her, day after day,
year after year, how a good
man should comport himself,
he's been preparing
her whole life for marriage.
- To Keith.
- Exactly.
[Lindsay] That's the lamb to
the slaughter right there.
She and her dad have been leading with
their chins, cruising for a bruising.
Asking for it.
It's a total sucker play.
Or so you've heard.
There's a sucker that reaches
age of consent every minute.
When Keith turns out to be
the mythic jerk that he is,
all of her carefully curated
self-esteem will be destroyed,
a father will have lost a
daughter, and where will she be?
Right here
with the rest of us.
[band playing ballad]
I used to love this song.
Do you want to dance?
- I said "used to."
- Fine.
- Why, do you want to dance?
- Of course not, I hate dancing.
It's moronic and a
complete waste of time.
You're not that busy.
I just thought maybe you wanted to
dance to get your mind off things.
I don't and it wouldn't.
Fine. I said fine.
Neither of us wants
to fucking dance.
[guests whooping]
I can't help but hope
Keith tears a hip muscle.
Can we take a walk?
[guests cheering, applauding]
- [Frank] How are the shoes?
- [Lindsay] They're fine.
I didn't really want to go through
the whole entire selection,
but I have weird arches
on my mom's side.
- So they're good.
- Yeah.
Okay.
You know after
the whole thing with Keith,
- I was diagnosed with PTSD.
- Rich person's PTSD.
- Privileged person's PTSD.
- Okay, I do know what you're saying.
This is why people
hate the top one percent.
- I am not the top one percent.
- Neither am I.
When people talk about the top
one percent like it's home,
it drives me fucking crazy.
You know who's actually
in the top one percent
are the assholes
that run the companies
that I prosecute
and you reward.
Top ten, top 20 percent,
whatever it is.
The segment of society
that doesn't have to worry
about basic things like food,
clothing, shelter, transportation,
or getting shot
by the police.
So we're not allowed
to have problems?
We're allowed to have them, but
no one is interested in them.
And I don't blame them,
I'm not even interested.
We're trite, trivial,
tiresome, tone-deaf narcissists.
I never said I wasn't
a tone-deaf narcissist.
- The optics are very bad.
- Nobody's looking.
We should keep our shit
to ourselves.
We are keeping it
to ourselves.
Besides, it's human nature to find pain in
any situation, however relatively fortunate.
That doesn't
make it listenable.
Well, I'm sorry if my brand of pain
is out of vogue, but it's all I got.
It would be so much more
interesting and fantastic
if we had been
fondled by priests
or lost a leg but could
still feel it or something.
[Lindsay laughs]
[Lindsay] My theory about
myself is that my soma
is sending me a Darwinian
message telling me,
"Hey, you're unfit to pass your
DNA on to future generations,
so you should just select out."
Well, just keep doing
what you're doing.
But I have
so much to give.
Not really.
[gasps] Holy shit, Frank.
What is that?
- [growling]
- I think it's a mountain lion.
- Could it be a jaguar?
- I don't know. I'm not a zookeeper.
It's too big for an
ocelot or a bearcat,
but too small
for a panther, I think.
What the fuck difference does it make
what it is? It's a fucking predator cat.
- A cougar, maybe?
- [cat snarling]
- Jesus Christ.
- I don't know what you're worried about.
- It's gonna go for me.
- Why?
I saw a thing. They pick out
the smallest of the herd.
We're not a herd,
we're wedding guests.
I'm telling you,
you're safe if you just run.
You run.
I'll stay here and fight.
Uh, yeah,
but I'm not a sprinter.
I run for distance, so it
gives me a certain clarity...
- Yes, all right.
- [roars]
You run.
I'll stay here and fight.
How about if we both run
and nobody stays and fights?
Neither one of us
can outrun a cheetah.
It's not a fucking cheetah.
We're not in Africa.
They're also in Iran,
I think it said.
They won't even
hear us scream.
I hate those
fucking people.
- [snarling]
- On the plus side, you'll be ruining Keith's wedding.
- That's true.
- Unless they don't find us for weeks.
And then only in pieces, some of
which were brought back to its lair.
[roaring]
Last chance on the running.
I can't believe you're the last human
person I'm ever gonna talk to.
There might be EMTs.
Yeah, but I might
be a hemophiliac.
Might be?
Don't you know that already?
Well, no, because you can get things
as an adult, like adult onset asthma.
- My friend Suzanne has that...
- [hissing, hocking phlegm]
- [hocking phlegm]
- [snarls]
[hocking phlegm]
- [roars]
- [hocking phlegm]
[whimpers]
[hocking phlegm]
- Now we run!
- Oh!
- That was good, Frank.
- My throat is really raw.
[Lindsay] But why are
we still running?
[Frank] Because I don't
think it's a bad idea
to put as much distance between us
and the mountain lion as possible.
[Lindsay] It might've
been a lynx!
[Frank] It would be so
ironic if I strangled you.
Why do you have to ruin
a nice moment!
- [Lindsay] Ow!
- [Frank] Ah, fuck! Ah, fuck!
- [Lindsay] Ow! Ow!
- [Frank] Fuck! Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck!
[Frank] Ah!
Okay. Oh.
For the record,
you ruined the moment, not me.
Lindsay?
Lindsay?
I'm fine!
For God's sake. Jesus.
- Great.
- I just had the wind knocked out of me.
Okay, good.
It was good, because you didn't have
the first clue what you were doing.
Hey, it's been a while
since health class.
Yeah, well, if you thought
I had a cervical injury,
the last thing you're supposed
to do is flip a person over
like a fuckin' pancake.
- I'm sorry.
- But on the other hand, you did save me.
Us.
I told you,
it would have gone for me.
Why did you do that?
Why did you save me?
I didn't save you.
Why did you save me?
Because I'm an idiot.
- You could've died.
- Of idiocy.
Don't tell me
you're secretly noble.
I'm not.
But I thought,
"Maybe she's right.
Maybe hers
is the life in danger.
She seems to know
fuckin' everything."
And I didn't want to feel guilty for the
rest of my life about not having saved you.
I get that.
- I didn't want to think of myself as selfish.
- Frank.
As that selfish. Not on top of everything
else I already think about myself.
Copy you.
'Cause it's not like
I have so much to live for.
Yeah, well,
that's true.
Well, anyway, thank you.
What the fuck, Frank?
I'm sorry.
I don't know what that was.
Neither do I,
for fuck's sake. Jesus.
- Goddamn it!
- I'm sorry.
- What is wrong with you?
- I don't know.
What the fuck?
Let's just...
Come on.
Mmm.
- [groans]
- Can't... Just put it on...
I'm sorry.
[panting] I'm sorry,
it's just very difficult
for me to give myself over to
any sort of positive activity.
Yeah.
Especially this one.
It makes me think about how
long I've gone without it,
which makes me
want to kill myself.
Yeah, well, I've been pretty
sure for a very long time
that life is essentially
a horrible experience,
and I really don't need
this kind of confusion.
- And pressure.
- Yeah.
I mean, if it all sucks,
then fuck it,
but if it doesn't all suck,
then there's so much pressure.
Yeah.
God, do you even know
how long it's been
since I've been touched with
affection by another human being?
How about without affection?
[sighs]
Nearly as long.
I tell you right now, I haven't
felt pleasure since about 2006.
Sometimes, I feel
the absence of pain,
which at this point
feels like pleasure,
or at least pleasure's
little cousin.
I don't have protection.
Well, why would you?
I mean, why would you
have a condom today?
What are the odds?
Astronomical.
- What if you got pregnant?
- I'm sure my womb is hostile.
Having sex right now
would be irresponsible.
Well, who cares?
I mean, how much worse
can things get?
- Okay.
- Yeah?
Okay.
Okay.
- [sighs]
- Okay.
Okay.
All right.
[clears throat]
[groans]
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
Okay.
How's that?
That's fine.
[groans]
Do you think the mountain lion
will be attracted to the musk?
I think it was a puma.
[groans]
How is it now?
It feels strange
yet pleasantly familiar,
kind of like coming off a long
diet or going back to smoking.
How about now?
Do you have
any diseases?
Of course not.
I missed every
possible sexual revolution.
The first one,
the one after Tinder,
- the one after Caitlyn Jenner...
- Me, too.
[both moaning]
Crabs.
You have crabs?
No, actual crabs.
Over there.
Those aren't crabs,
those are tarantulas.
They look like crabs.
No, they don't.
And besides,
they don't attack humans.
Now you're just
making shit up.
Oh, yes, for the thrill
of fucking you.
- Let's get it over with.
- Fine.
[both moaning]
My mother used to tell me to always
use two condoms when you have sex.
The second one
always had to be bigger.
- It looked like a wind sock.
- That's so stupid.
Each condom would cause
the other one to break.
A fact discovered, astraddle,
in the summer after 12th grade,
by a nice girl named Auden
who had no quarrel with anyone.
She ran screaming
from our rec room.
Of course, you had sex
in your rec room.
We had a Nutone intercom system.
The master control
was in the kitchen.
My parents could listen and talk to
any room in the house from there.
- I used to call the kitchen "The Eagle's Nest."
- [moans]
When my father heard
Auden wailing,
he screamed
through the intercom,
"What the fuck
is going on down there?"
I said what happened.
There was a pause,
and then my mother said,
"Dinner's ready."
Your mother cooked?
On the off-chance
that we are making a baby,
do you want a boy
or a girl?
You're asking me this now?
I'm killing time.
Uh, a boy.
[sniffs] My mother actually told
me there's a way to get a boy.
- Oh, this ought to be good.
- Yeah.
At the moment of climax, just
shout out, "Oh, boy! Oh, boy!"
[laughs] Can we please stop
talking about your mother.
But I don't know why
you'd possibly want a boy,
considering, you know,
the baseline quality of
your relationships with men.
Oh. What, revenge?
[both groaning]
Oh, Jesus, Frank!
Jesus effing Christ!
[moaning loudly]
Oh, God, you look like
you're gonna throw up!
Why would I?
You're a very attractive woman.
Not from that.
Oh, right,
sorry.
Oh, God!
No!
No, no, no, no!
- No?
- No, not "no."
I'm just
a very negative person.
Okay.
I'm expressing
incredulity!
- Got it.
- [screams]
- No!
- Ah!
No! No! No!
No! No!
Oh, boy!
Oh, boy!
Oh, boy!
Yeah!
Oh, boy!
[both moaning]
Anytime, pal.
Can you not talk right now?
Fine.
- It's gonna get cold out.
- No, it won't.
Yes, it will.
It's the Paso Robles Diurnal.
There's
sweeping wind temperatures.
Don't you know anything
about meteorology?
No! [groans]
Oh, God. Kelp.
- Help?
- No, kelp.
There's kelp at
or near my vagina.
Oh, that's grass.
We're in grass.
How is that better?
You put the ocean in my head
with the fucking crabs.
[moaning loudly]
[yelling]
[purring]
[continues moaning]
[moans]
[breathes heavily]
What?
I had a purse.
[Lindsay]
Do you want a drink?
I want all the drinks poured
directly down my gullet.
Why don't we go to your room
and crack open your minibar?
Why don't we
go to your room
and crack open
your goddamn minibar?
Frank.
We're alive.
What does that have
to do with anything?
[Lindsay]
Oh, Danny boy, the pipes
[both singing]
The pipes are calling
- [Lindsay] From glen to glen
- [Frank] From glen
[together]
And down the mountainside
- [Frank] How do you know the words to this?
- [Lindsay] Come on.
The summer's gone
[Frank] Summer's
gone And all the...
[Lindsay]
Flowers are dy...
[Frank] Dying
[Lindsay] 'Tis you,
'tis you Must go
- And I must bide...
- [Frank] What?
[Lindsay]
But come ye back
[woman on TV]
But at some point,
don't you think it just starts
to look a little ridiculous?
Think about it, this guy was formally
the head of the committee...
[Lindsay]
"Formerly," not "form-ally."
I know, it's appalling.
Seriously, the chocolate?
We're not going to drink without eating.
Alcoholics do that.
The chocolate
is the most expensive thing
in the minibar
besides the...
- [wine cork pops]
- wine.
Would you rather we had
ordered room service?
Definitely not.
I spoke to the front desk.
They add a delivery fee,
a 17 percent gratuity,
and some sort of fuckin' cover
charge, like we're in Italy.
I've always wondered why
they give you two glasses
even when
you're traveling alone.
Because one
would be so sad.
Here's to...
What?
- Please.
- [glasses clink]
It's not hashish.
I'm not wearing anything
under my pajamas.
Why would you?
They're so alluring.
I didn't think I was gonna
be intimate this weekend.
Or any weekend.
Superman couldn't see
through those pajamas.
So you tried.
People have jousted
in lighter clothing.
- Frank?
- Present.
When you said before that
I was an attractive woman,
what did you mean?
What do you mean
what did I mean?
You're an attractive woman.
You're physically appealing.
Can you be more specific?
Your facial features
subscribe to the Golden Ratio.
What?
One to the quantity one half
times radical five plus one.
The Golden Ratio.
You can tell that?
It's an estimate.
And you have
The Folds of Aphrodite.
What are the Folds
of Aphrodite?
That's the name of the
particular, graceful way
that the cheeks
of beautiful women
arrange themselves
when they smile.
There's a gentle creasing
that begins at the cheekbone
and runs downward,
in a slightly arced diagonal,
directing the eye
to the mouth.
It's aesthetically thrilling.
Well...
I've never heard the term
"Folds of Aphrodite."
I coined it.
Then it's not a real thing.
Then it and you
are bullshit.
I googled around and there was
no name for it so I coined it.
- It's established now.
- Bullshit.
In my experience, there's at least a 90
percent correlation between beautiful women
- and women who have The Folds of Aphrodite.
- Oh...
The Folds cut across races
and ethnicities.
What else about me?
Well...
[sighs]
you're slender,
but not to the point of a
troubled relationship with food.
That's actionable profiling,
right there.
File a grievance.
And your curves are very
sexy but not vulgar.
Everything very much
in proportion,
firm but not overly,
which I've always found
weird and prepossessing.
Your arms bespeak physical
fitness and athleticism,
but nothing sapphic.
- [scoffs]
- And your ankles quietly aver
that you will keep your body
well into later age.
[scoffs] It's despicable
the way men look at women.
In short, you are beautiful,
graceful, and elegant.
Also, you don't dress
in an overtly sexy way.
You seem to understand
that dressing sexy
is actually the opposite
of being sexy,
that certain information
should have to be earned,
rather than given away
for free
to anyone and everyone
who passeth by your doorstep.
[scoffs]
If this were 1732.
I'm giving you
a compliment.
You're calling me
a prude.
I'm suggesting that
you've taken the high road.
Even in this flagrant,
flaunting day and age,
you have chosen
to preserve the mystery.
Yes, the pajamas go too far,
but I applaud the ethos.
- Would you like to know about you?
- No.
Yes, you would.
You're very handsome.
You have powerful eyes.
Your hair
will never be a problem.
The corners
of your mouth touch
but do not cross the vertical
lines which bisect your eyes.
In profile, your chin extends
exactly the same as your lower lip,
which is an ideal.
Bodily, you feel strong and
substantial, sinuous but not wiry.
Sartorially,
you get high marks.
You tuck in your shirts
because you realize
that tails out is
a ridiculous way to dress.
You wear your pants low, and
your shoes are legitimate.
And you have
a beautiful penis.
I do?
Oh, come on, Frank.
Surely people have told you
that your entire life.
No.
Well, it's very nice.
It's straight,
and you would not believe how
epidemic a problem that is.
Also,
it's balletically formed.
It's not so big as to ever
be a cause for concern,
but it's big enough never to be
the object of ridicule or scorn.
You're in
a very sweet spot there.
Are you saying that Keith's
penis is not straight?
Can you imagine that we would
have gone this entire weekend
without saying these
things to each other?
- "Balletically formed"?
- That's right.
[sighs] People are
ridiculous and pathetic.
Animals, that's all.
We want to believe that there's some
high-minded, cosmic meaning behind love,
but the truth is
we're drawn to,
and make most of our
decisions based upon,
shapes we find appealing,
and colors and textures
and smells and tastes
and spatial relations.
It's so stupid.
This is pretty good.
I mean, when I think about
what people look like
when they kiss or have sex,
I want to vomit.
You almost did vomit.
I mean, there's nothing beautiful
or transcendent about being human.
Ultimately,
it's just a filthy business
of a revolting species
trying to survive.
I mean, if you've ever really
watched another person eat,
or seen yourself in a mirror
taking a shit,
or walked through
South Coast Plaza,
you know exactly
what I'm talking about.
But I had my eyes open
when I was fucking you,
and I thought we must
have looked pretty good.
My father thought
he had a good golf swing.
[laughs]
Wait.
[clears throat]
Do a groove chew.
I'm sorry?
It's a style
of chewing used
when you're really
enjoying something
that you don't have
very often.
Like this.
[clears throat]
Mm!
Mm!
- This is a thing?
- I coined it.
And you're not embarrassed?
All right, just come on.
Just try.
- Mmm...
- Mm.
- Mmm!
- Mmm-mm!
- Can you groove swallow?
- You can.
- Can we groove swallow now?
- Okay, fine.
[both swallow loudly]
[mutters]
- Huh?
- Uh...
[man on TV] I remember the
first time I ever saw you.
It was a partial nephrectomy.
You were standing in for Dr.
Sumner who had an emergency.
With your cap and mask,
all I could see
were your eyes.
And I remember thinking...
thank God.
Because anything more
would be too much to bear.
Stop worrying
about fucking each other
and start saving the people
who are dying in your hospital.
Your patient has a
snake in his urethra.
You should all
lose your licenses.
When my time comes,
I will sign a DNR.
I won't.
I want to be resuscitated.
I want to be intubated, revived,
retrieved, and prolonged.
I want them
to zap me with clappers
and inject my heart with that long needle
of adrenaline... whatever it takes.
What? But, what if
there's no hope?
There's already no hope.
But what if you're just
a burden to your family
and, by extension, the
entire health-care system?
Won't give a shit.
I want them
to stave off death.
I don't care if there's turnips
with better brain-wave patterns.
Legumes.
But I thought
you hated life.
I do, but I'm going to
be dead for a long time,
so there's no rush.
Do you want
to have children?
I'd rather be dead
in a ditch.
Oh.
I mean, why would I do
that to those poor souls?
Well, for the same reason
you want to be resuscitated.
Because being, as bad as it
is, is better than not being.
This is a horrible place
to be.
Central California,
or the whole thing?
I'm already alive.
I already know shit.
But unborn children
are none the wiser
and deserve to be protected
from certain things,
like being alive
in the first place.
That makes no sense.
Living was not my choice.
It was my mother's.
Have you ever heard
of anything more selfish?
- I hope I'm not pregnant.
- That's all I'm saying.
Why did your father
leave your mother?
Because he could.
Because he had the power
of locomotion.
Why did she keep and hyphenate
both her divorced last names?
Because she thought
it made her sound aristocratic.
Also, this way
she gets all her mail.
And what would you say
is the major barrier
to a warm relationship between
you and your half-brother?
He's a douchebag. Why are you
asking me these questions?
Just... I don't know.
I'm just evaluating your qualifications
as an ongoing love interest.
Not that
I'm advocating that.
Clearly, you're an emotional
cripple, as am I.
I don't have any qualifications as an
ongoing love interest and neither do you.
But love interest
is too strong a word.
I, um... Affection.
Interest.
Tolerance interest.
This isn't
going to be ongoing.
What, you've just decided
that unilaterally?
- For both our sakes.
- I don't get a say?
No, you have terrible judgment
in this regard.
[scoffs]
What, but... I...
My head is finally
clear, thanks to you.
I mean, I haven't thought about
Keith since the mountain lion.
So you admit
it was a mountain lion.
Do you have any idea
how huge this is for me?
If it's true,
the mountain lion and I
are happy to have
performed that service.
But now, apparently, no
good deed goes unpunished.
I think
I finally have closure.
I don't trust that statement
and neither should you.
But you want to.
You don't just jump from one
love object to another.
- Tolerance object.
- That's how mistakes are made.
All I make are mistakes.
At least this one
would be fun.
Are you having fun
right now?
Yes. I mean, we're kind of
arguing, but there's hope.
This is an interlude.
A weekend.
A small oasis of time
in which we can taste intimacy
like it's a piece of free
salami at Trader Joe's.
Why not? You're in the store anyway,
and you forgot to eat breakfast,
and it tastes okay, and afterwards
there's no salami fallout.
When no one's looking, you just
drop the toothpick onto the floor.
Man, you're not one of the...
Do you do that?
Well, there's no garbage
pails in that place,
and it's unsanitary to put the
toothpick on the receptacle napkin.
All right,
le... just... Okay.
Just... I'm just
devil's advocate.
Maybe...
[clears throat]
just what if, okay?
What if it's more?
What if there actually
is something to the idea
of a destination wedding?
What if we've been thinking about
this whole thing backwards?
What if...
I know, but what if our real
destination was each other?
What if you
never say that again?
What if happiness
is... contagious?
Why would you think
that meeting someone
has anything to do
with being happy?
Because!
Once upon a time,
I met someone,
and I was happy...
I thought.
Personally, I'd be worried
if my life philosophy
began with
"Once Upon a Time."
Well, I was raised
by optimists.
But you have a preponderance
of counter-evidence.
Were you not watching
your own engagement?
- How could I have been?
- What's wrong with you?
Nothing. Sometimes I just
willfully reject irony.
You are doomed.
Maybe we saved
each other, Frank.
I mean, did you ever
think about it like that?
No. Neither should you.
I wonder how many
people met at weddings
- and then went on to...
- Thirty-two.
Why not, you know,
extend the oasis?
A good day here,
a good day there,
pretty soon you're just talking
about a couple of good days.
What time does our flight
land tomorrow night?
I don't know,
about 7:30?
I will extend it until
tomorrow at about 7:30.
Well, there's no point in
extending it another four seconds
if you're not gonna keep your
mind open to the possibilities.
Why do people need the
dangled carrot of a future?
Because we do.
Because connection
is precious,
therefore, it is immoral
to just treat each other
like dalliances,
even if that's what
we wind up being.
But that's exactly what
we wind up being.
Permanence is a myth,
an a... an illusion.
Well, I didn't say anything
about permanence.
I was speaking of a slightly
lengthier temporariness.
What's the point?
I just told you
what the point was.
But when it's over, you're
right back at square zero.
I will not
keep my mind open.
[scoffs] Well, then
just keep it open
to the possibility
of keeping it open.
No.
Really?
Oh, wow. That's... I...
I'm almost, I'm almost...
You know what,
if you can't or won't,
then you simply
can't or won't.
- That's my blanket.
- [mocking] "That's my blanket."
You might want to shake out
the Pringle fragments.
"You might want to shake out
the Pringle fragments."
If you want to leave,
just say so.
- I very much want to leave.
- Say it again.
You debate like a child.
You eat like a raccoon.
You're fucking up.
How about
if I keep my mind open
to the possibility
of keeping my mind open
to the possibility
of keeping my mind open?
That is just one metalevel
too removed.
Come on.
Get back into bed.
Let's find out who the
nephrologist is sleeping with.
Fine.
But only until
the next commercial break.
And with no sexual reprise.
And only because I do want to know who
the nephrologist is sleeping with.
Okay.
[sighs]
[man on TV] When I look at
you, I don't see smallpox.
And it's "re-prize."
It's "re-preeze."
- "Re-prize."
- It's... "re-preeze." [scoffs]
[squeaks]
[snoring]
[quick snort]
[snoring]
[quick snort]
[quick snort]
[gurgles]
[sighs]
[quick snort]
- [snoring]
- [knocking]
[Lindsay sighs]
[knocking]
Jesus,
is it Kristallnacht?
Oh, it's housekeeping.
They're not going to
get that reference.
[knocking continues]
Mas retardos!
Ah...
[speaking foreign language]
Oh... You shouldn't be in here.
This is my room.
Then I shouldn't be
in here.
Okay.
How did I wind up
in this position?
You made some
poor life choices.
No, in this position.
I'm half off the bed.
- [groans]
- Why is my nose bleeding?
I think I have a spinal injury.
[groans]
You feel pregnant?
I wouldn't know.
What's your gut say?
What it always says.
"Don't listen to me."
But if you did listen?
I don't feel any different,
if that's what you mean.
- Good.
- How is that good?
Why would you want me to perpetuate
my general circumstances?
You can do anything you want
with your circumstances.
I was thinking
of my circumstances.
Which are so wonderful.
We shouldn't have spent
the night together.
You wouldn't let me leave.
I didn't want it to end
on a bad note.
Also,
you're in the next room.
It would have been
spectacularly awkward.
[scoffs]
As opposed to this.
We tried, okay?
We did.
But at some point there's just not
enough optimism left inside a person
to sustain something
like this, you know?
You broken preacher,
me broken choir.
I think it's important we recognize
that and verbalize it openly,
so as to avoid
any discomfort.
Oh. Mission accomplished.
Good.
Do you have everything?
Oh, um... Yeah.
I think, uh, my...
Can we still hang together
at the farewell brunch?
Uh, who else
am I gonna hang with?
Although I suppose
I could hang with myself.
Well, I'm going to shove some tissues
up my nostrils and take a shower.
Sounds like
good-bye to me.
[bird cawing]
[patrons chattering]
Well, what do you think, about
time we head to the airport?
It's really close.
Fifteen minutes.
- Well, our flight's not for...
- Five hours.
- There could be traffic.
- Why take chances?
Then we should just
say our good-byes.
[together] Good-bye.
Want your farewell gift?
The farewell is my gift,
but please, take mine.
Who was San Luis Obispo,
anyway?
And what the fuck did he do
to become a saint?
Thirteenth Century Bishop
of Toulouse.
Served the poor, left the
Church, and died of typhus.
That's all it takes?
It was in
the welcome basket.
Why would you canonize a guy
who left the Church?
Why look to France when you're
naming a city in California?
And what the fuck happened
with the urban planning here?
- At some point, did they just give up?
- Right.
On the off, off chance
that I ever have a wedding,
I would never make
anyone travel to it.
I don't think you'll have
to worry about that.
[chuckling]
Because you're
a decent person.
Not because
you won't get married.
Oh, come on.
Why do we live, Frank?
Oh, Jesus Christ.
I'm serious.
The work we do isn't
meaningful in any great sense.
The connections we make
invariably fall to ruin.
Everything we build
burns to the ground.
Meaning is a myth, like you've
said, so why do we live?
I was so enjoying
the silence.
It has to be that the myth
isn't a myth for everyone.
Well, it's certainly a myth
for those two. Look at them.
They'd rather burst into flames
than to fuck each other.
- You don't know that.
- Oh, yes, I do.
It's possible that within the
myth, there's a sliver of truth,
and you have to believe
in that sliver wholeheartedly,
come what may,
despite the rational mind,
because if you...
if you don't,
the myth just reveals
itself to be a myth,
and meaninglessness becomes
a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Try as I might, I cannot get
behind wine in screw-top bottles.
Also, you have to encourage
others to believe in the myth.
Because if they believe,
they can do anything.
They can laugh,
cry, hope,
vote, get married.
But if they don't, they can't
do anything, I mean not really,
except make themselves as shallowly
happy and comfortable as possible.
Which is just vanity,
let's face it.
For me,
wine in a screw-top
will always carry the
stench of chintziness.
[sighs] What if we're
falling in love?
Don't get me wrong,
I'm not a big fan of cork.
You ever see it on a wall or
in the heels of an espadrille?
Ridiculous.
But for wine, it conveys
a certain necessary lan.
What if love
comes for everyone?
[sighs]
Don't be absurd.
What if no one is immune,
not even us?
Stop it.
It would be remiss
not to embrace the miracle.
What happened between us
was not a miracle.
It was actually much closer
to a debacle.
- Maybe that's what you meant.
- Oh, come on.
You don't find it miraculous
that two people like us
forged any kind of bond?
I find it "debaculous."
It was a miracle.
It required forever
being seated together.
It required an adjoining door
and a near-death experience.
What are you waiting for,
a burning bush?
I can't believe you're
bringing this up again.
I thought we had
an understanding.
We had come
to an agreement.
We're less than an hour away
from parting as friends.
Okay, but deep down,
in your broken,
miserable gut,
don't you want something
that's pure
and in its own grotesque
way, beautiful?
No.
Don't you want to secretly
have a romantic life
that confirms your hopes
instead of your cynicism?
No.
Don't you want to believe
that things like this
actually do happen?
Nope. I'm fond
of my cynicism.
It's very comfortable.
- Like a warm blanket of your own shit.
- Yes. Yes.
I'm very comfortable
and warm
in my fucking warm blanket
of fucking shit.
But what if
we're falling in love?
Dear God...
I mean, what if this
is what it's like?
It would end
in disaster.
- What if it didn't?
- It would.
- I know.
- Good.
- But...
- Stop.
- Ah...
- Stop.
- But...
- [hocking phlegm]
[continues
hocking phlegm]
Oh!
[laughing]
This is not funny. Don't
laugh at me, please.
I'm laughing
out of affection.
No one laughs at another
person out of affection.
You laugh at another
person out of contempt.
No. I'm laughing
'cause it's cute.
- It is?
- Yes.
But, fine,
I'll stop laughing.
Thank you.
- Frank?
- Yes?
[clears throat] Don't you, like,
have an instinct about me?
Nope.
I think you do.
You're the one who said
your gut can't be trusted.
That's true.
For a long time,
it's been a lying bitch.
But I would have been willing
to give it another shot.
Why? I mean, how much shit
has to fall on your head
before you start
wearing a hat?
You can't die from jumping
out of a basement window.
Of course you can. You can hit
your head on a pipe or something.
[sighs]
You're going to wish you
embraced the miracle, Frank.
You're gonna wish you had.
How are your pants,
John Wayne Bobbitt?
- Sticky.
- [giggles]
We shouldn't exchange
contact information.
There's no point.
I think
I just said that.
It was very nice
to meet you.
It was very nice
to meet you too.
I know what
you're going to say...
- "It's not you, it's me."
- No, it's you.
- [laughs]
- It's me.
Yeah.
I know.
- It's you.
- I... Yep.
[sniffles]
I liked the bow
though.
Why didn't we meet
seven years ago, Frank?
Just lucky, I guess.
[Lindsay] 14 Catalina Drive,
Newport Beach, please?
What are you doing?
Don't give your exact address.
You don't know
who the driver is.
Thank you for caring.
I don't. I would've
said the same to anyone.
We're holding up
the line, Frank.
There are other people
in the world.
There are?
Do you have a whistle?
[people chattering on TV]
[man] And then taxation.
[man 2] We get shut down
every single time by your...
- [man 1] Idea you have so far.
- [man 2] No, no, no.
Can I speak?
Can I speak?
- [man 1] Please.
- [man 2] Because of your...
- Hold on. Hold on.
- That's what I...
- Just wait a second, all right?
- I'm working on it.
[conversation continues]
[woman on TV] It's the guys who
stand by in all their philosophies
and all their ideas and
everything that they represent.
[man] They're talking about
the silent majority.
[man 2] I don't know.
I mean, listen,
- if you look at the facts again...
- [man] Hold on.
They're having a sidebar here.
Hold on.
[man 2] How can we even bring
that up at this point?
- [woman] But what fact?
- [man] In the media.
You're not getting paid here.
[woman] You have got to look
at what your guy did too.
[man] Oh, really?
There it is again.
There's the same thing
right there.
It's the same response
for the other side. Yeah.
Yeah, but never mind
because your guy was worse...
[indistinct conversation
continues]
[indistinct conversation
continues]
[doorbell rings]
[hocking phlegm]

UNPLANNED

BBY: My story
isn't an easy one to hear.
I think I probably ought
to warn you of that up front.
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh...
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
- Boo! What do you think
you're doing? - (laughing)
You better run!
(shouts)
(groans): No fair getting
woken up before the alarm.
Daddy's turn.
(both laughing)
Ah, the Grace monster!
- No!
- (laughing)
DOUG:
We don't waste food, right?
No.
So?
When it's like this,
it's not food.
Hi, baby.
Coffee's on the counter.
- Thank you.
- Um...
can you help us
with a situation?
What's the matter?
Daddy didn't make
the toast right.
He cut it into little squares.
It's supposed to be
into triangles.
Ah. Let me see what I can do.
I thought I did
a pretty good job.
GRACE:
What are you doing?
ABBY:
This is what you call
(whispers):
Magic.
See? What do you think?
And that's why
you're the mommy.
- Breakfast?
- I don't have any time.
Mommy, you have to be
nutritious.
- You're so right. Mmm.
- (Doug chuckles)
- Bye.
- DOUG: Bye, baby.
- Hey, where you going?
- (door opens)
- GRACE: Mommy! Mommy!
- (door closes)
Mommy! Don't go.
- Why can't you stay home
and play with me? - Gracie.
Gracie, baby,
we talked about this.
Saturdays are
Mommy's busiest day.
But I promise, when I get home,
we will get pizza
and watch a movie.
- Yeah!
- Okay.
(Doug chuckles)
- Bye, babe.
- Bye.
(engine starts)
("This Could Change Everything"
by Francesca Battistelli plays)
Bye, Mommy!
There's a fire inside,
you can feel it burning
It's a neon light
glowing like a furnace
And the night is long,
but the world keeps turning
You gotta know it,
it's not the end
Every new sunrise
is one step closer
It's a sign in the sky
that the fight's not over
So face the world,
it's now or never
This is your moment,
let it begin
This could
change everything
Can you feel it now?
Something's in the air
This could
change everything
I know we're gonna know it
when we get there
No more waiting,
I'm taking the chance
This could
change everything
Let it begin...
ABBY: I've been asked
a thousand times:
Were you really so gullible?
Were you really so ambivalent?
So naive? So foolish? So...
You get the picture.
My answer? Yes.
I often find that people
don't like my answers.
That's understandable,
because my story isn't
a neat and tidy one,
and it doesn't come wrapped up
in a pretty red bow.
In fact, it's probably gonna
make you squirm a bit.
Oh, oh, oh
Let it begin.
- (knock on door) -Hey, Abby,
sorry to bother you,
but they need an extra person
in the back room.
- Are you free?
- Sure.
ABBY:
Even though I'd been
with Planned Parenthood
for almost eight years,
I'd never been called
into the procedure room
to help the surgical team
with an abortion.
And I had no idea
why I was needed now.
Megan said that you needed
some assistance?
DOCTOR: I only do
ultrasound-guided procedures.
I want you to hold the probe.
(machine beeps quietly)
- This might be
a little cold, okay? - Mm-hmm.
Don't move.
(machine beeps quietly)
DOCTOR:
Take my tubing.
(fetal heartbeat pulsing)
- Okay.
- How's that?
All right, little to the left.
Angle down just slightly.
(fetal heartbeat
continues pulsing)
That's better.
13-weeker.
- Hold still.
- Come on, stay still.
You can hold my arm,
but you can't wiggle.
- It hurts.
- DOCTOR: Whoa.
NURSE: You want to get done,
don't you? Deep breaths.
DOCTOR: Now, just hold
the probe in place
- so I can see what I'm doing.
- (woman sobs softly)
- Okay. Up there.
- (woman sobs)
It just moved away
from the catheter.
DOCTOR: They always move.
That's why I do it this way.
(fetal heartbeat
pulsing faster)
(fetal heartbeat stops)
Beam me up, Scotty.
(machine whirring)
(gurgling)
(whimpers softly)
(air hissing, quiet pop)
(whirring stops)
Where the hell is she going?
(crying)
- Abby, you okay?
- (crying continues)
D-Do you need a doctor?
He is the last person
that I want to see right now.
(crying)
ABBY:
Unfortunately for me,
- this is my story.
- (crying fades)
(laughter)
I started my junior year
at Texas AandM
the way most
college students do:
Wondering how I'd make
my mark on the world.
Howdy. Hot out there, huh?
- Yeah. - Why don't you have
a water bottle.
Thank you.
Are you familiar with
Planned Parenthood?
I've heard of it. It's
a women's health clinic, right?
That's right.
Our clinics are very important
to our clients who depend on us
for birth control,
or abortions if they need them.
Um, I don't know
how I feel about abortion.
My family is pro-life,
so I guess I am, too.
Oh, I totally understand.
But at Planned Parenthood,
our goal is
to make abortions rare.
Rare. What do you mean?
Well, by making birth control
freely accessible,
thousands and thousands
of abortions aren't required.
However, when a woman really
does find herself needing one,
our clinics are vital
to their safety.
It's hard to believe
that there's still some people
out there that want to tell us
- what we can and can't do
with our body. - Yeah.
You know, I completely agree
with equal rights for women.
And that's what
we're all about.
- So, what's your name?
- Abby Brannam.
Um, I am a junior
studying psychology.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Jill.
I work in community services
at Planned Parenthood.
And we do need volunteers,
because many of our services
are free or low-cost
for our clients.
Okay. Sign me up.
ABBY:
I left campus that day as
a proud champion
of women in crisis.
So why didn't I call my mom
and tell her the good news?
- (protesters clamoring)
- MAN: Murderer!
Murderer!
ABBY: Because I didn't think
she'd understand
how the work I'd be doing
wasn't going to
increase the number of
abortions but decrease them.
How's this for
a brilliant insight:
Never trust a decision
you don't want
your mom to know about.
Hmm. Just keep staring at me.
(sighs) It's okay.
You're just here
to check it out,
and if you don't like it,
you don't have to stay.
(protestors continue clamoring)
- Hi. Are you Abby?
- I am.
- Hi. I'm Summer.
- Summer, nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, too.
Here, put this on
so everyone knows
you're with the clinic.
I'll hold this for you.
So, really, is this normal?
Just ignore them.
When a client shows up, we head
for the car immediately,
so there's someone waiting
when she opens her door.
When she opens it,
start talking right away.
- About what?
- Anything.
The weather,
her car, her clothes.
Anything to distract her from
the voices through the fence.
They're gonna be harassing her.
You need to make sure your
voice is the one she hears.
I'll go with you
the first few times
to make sure you get
the hang of it, okay?
- Okay.
- Okay.
We've still got a few minutes
before our first arrival.
Let's introduce you to Cheryl.
The access code is 2-2-2-9.
Uh, I'm awful
at remembering those.
- Oh, it's easy. It spells
"baby." - (door buzzes)
- Make sure to xerox
the first two and file. - Okay.
Excuse me. Cheryl?
This is Abby.
She's our newest
volunteer escort.
Abby, this is Cheryl
D'Alessandro, clinic director.
- Welcome. Nice to meet you.
- You, too.
- Let me take this for you.
- Thank you.
Samantha? Here, come here.
- Put that in a locker for me,
if you would. - Okay.
Summer, why don't you keep
an eye on the parking lot.
- Sure thing.
- Okay.
Why do they all think
that the women coming in
are having abortions?
Uh, you do offer
other services, right?
Not on Saturday.
On Saturdays, we only do
abortions, and they know that.
Especially
the Coalition for Life.
- They're like vultures.
- (chuckles softly)
Their office is
right up the street,
and their whole purpose
is to turn the community
against us
and to try to shut us down.
Here we go. First client.
- Go ahead.
- Make sure to keep her moving.
- MAN: Hey, princess.
- (protestors clamoring)
Does Daddy know
that you're here?
Yeah, yeah. Does he know
that you're killing
his little grandbabies
right now?
Oh, here they come.
Hi, Twinkies. How you doing?
- Hey. Yeah, ignore me.
- Hi there.
Starting to warm up, isn't it?
I love the color of your shirt.
MAN: No matter what good things
you do in your life,
you're still gonna be
a baby killer!
All right. Look at me
and keep walking.
And all this because you
couldn't keep your legs closed!
Keep walking, basic!
I'm talking to
the baby killer, not you!
SUMMER: Abby, can you get
the door for her?
Hey, you don't have to do this!
Hey, get back here!
I'm talking to you!
Okay, she's gonna take care
of you now, all right?
- Thank you.
- Okay.
I need you
to sign in here for me.
Okay.
The time now is 8:42.
(man shouts)
Okay. Your turn.
WOMAN: Hi. I'm here from
the Coalition for Life.
We know this is
a really hard day for you.
We're here because
we care about you.
Hi. Good morning.
How are you?
- Good.
- Nice weather, right?
- Yeah.
- Don't mind them.
WOMAN: Your little baby
already has a beating heart,
and she loves you
with all of it.
What you're doing right now
doesn't seem like caring to me.
I'm sorry. Come on.
(sighs) We'll just get you
inside, okay?
Just walk through that door.
They don't understand.
- Hey. My name's Marilisa.
- (door buzzes in distance)
I'm with
the Coalition for Life,
and we just wanted
to let you know
that we have other options
for you if you're interested
or if you want to talk.
Damn it! They got one.
I just wish they'd leave
these poor women alone.
MARILISA:
...feel safe and comfortable.
- Elena, turn on the sprinklers.
- Come on.
Renee, call the police
and report a disturbance.
Okay. But the last time
we did that,
the cops weren't super thrilled
when they showed up
and nobody was doing
anything illegal.
The number you're trying
to remember is 911.
Okay. Yep. Yeah. Okay.
(people shouting, screaming)
MAN:
Get the baby!
ABBY:
When my shift was over,
I couldn't wait
to get out of there.
Hey. I don't think
I've seen you here before.
No, it's my first day.
Can you tell me
why you're volunteering?
(sighs)
I don't know
if I'm coming back,
so I'm just checking it out.
Can I ask your name?
Abby.
- Abby.
- Mm-hmm.
Abby, you do know that they
perform abortions here, right?
You know, actually,
I've had an abortion myself.
So I don't have any problem
with another woman
making the same decision.
I'm so sorry
you had to go through that.
No, it's okay. Really.
It was my decision.
No one forced me to do it.
Well, if you ever want to talk
to anyone about anything...
God, do you people ever stop?
These women are hurting.
Why are you doing this to them?
We're not here to hurt them
or condemn them.
We're here to help them.
By dressing up in costumes
and showing them horrible
pictures to scare them?
In what world would a woman
run to someone dressed like
the Grim Reaper for help
with her crisis pregnancy?
I am with the Coalition
for Life, and they're not.
So we can ask them to stop,
and we do.
But we can't force them
to do anything.
So for what it's worth,
I think you're right, Abby.
Doesn't help.
Marilisa, leave her alone.
Abby, get in your car.
(engine starts)
ABBY:
Looking back, I'm surprised
I admitted my having had
an abortion to Marilisa.
I'd never told that to anyone.
Meaning I probably ought to
take a moment to explain.
In college, I'd gone from
small-town super achiever
to party girl in no time.
Literally, from the moment
my parents dropped me off.
Mark lived in my building,
and was ten years
older than me.
We started dating...
nothing serious,
until the day I saw two lines
on my pregnancy test kit.
Hey. It's all right.
It's all right.
We'll take you to a clinic
and take care of it.
What do you mean?
I know a place, in Houston.
How do you know a place
in Houston?
ABBY: Naturally,
Mark didn't have the $500
it would take to "get it done."
Neither did I.
So I applied for
my very first credit card.
I kept thinking,
"I can't tell my parents
about this.
"They can't know
I'm having sex.
They can't know I'm pregnant."
I remember there was
no one outside,
but the waiting room
was packed.
(tires screech)
My next clear memory
was of finding myself
lying on a table,
feet in stirrups,
with a painful pressure
building in my abdomen.
- (groans)
- I could hear myself groaning,
but it sounded distant.
You're fine, honey.
Just relax.
ABBY: I remember waking up
slumped forward,
sitting in
a hard plastic chair.
My chair was one in a line
filled by the girls who'd been
in the waiting room with me.
Some were staring at the floor.
Some were rocking
with their arms
wrapped around their bellies.
Some were softly crying.
I was handed a few crackers.
I slammed the experience
into a box, nailed it shut,
stashed it in a dark corner
of my soul,
and pretended
it never happened.
But I wasn't finished
making bad decisions yet.
Abby, it's not too late
to stop this.
I'll go grab the car,
you slip out that door,
and we will drive away.
I can't do that to my parents.
- Abby, your parents
would be thrilled. - (scoffs)
(Mendelssohn's
"Wedding March" playing)
(music continues over speakers)
(quietly):
Smile, Daddy.
I'm trying.
ABBY:
To call our marriage a fiasco
would be an insult
to fiascoes.
The last straw was a year later
on Valentine's Day.
- (sportscast playing on TV)
- Mark decided we'd celebrate
by making sandwiches.
But later that night,
after we'd gone to bed,
he slipped out of the apartment
to be with another woman.
I filed for divorce
the next day,
anxious to be free of this man,
feeling like I already was,
until a few weeks later...
(whispers):
Not again.
ABBY:
Panic and grief overwhelmed me.
I didn't want to be connected
to this man in any way.
- (sighs) -And if I were
to have his child,
I'd be connected to him
for the rest of my life.
So my next visit to the clinic
wasn't as a volunteer escort
but as a client.
I never saw
the ultrasound image.
But the nurse practitioner told
me I was eight weeks along,
which made me eligible for
a chemically induced abortion,
better known as
the RU-486 abortion pill.
The cutoff was nine weeks.
It seemed more private,
less invasive, more natural.
So I handed over $400
and took the first pill.
RENEE:
Tomorrow, whenever you're ready,
you're gonna take the four
pills in this little brown bag.
That's misoprostol.
It's gonna just gently
empty out your uterus.
And there's gonna be
a little bleeding,
but nothing more than
like a heavy period.
And, uh, if there's
any cramping,
you can take some ibuprofen.
(bills thump on counter)
Okay, you're all set.
Have a nice day.
ABBY: The next day,
I did as I was told.
I ate a light lunch and took
the pills inside my brown bag.
I was told I would probably
start bleeding
in about an hour.
In the meantime, I made myself
comfortable in my bed.
A little bit later...
(gasps softly)
(groans)
(panting)
(yelling in pain)
(sobs)
(groans)
(panting)
(sobbing)
(retching, coughing)
(spits)
(panting)
(crying)
(sobs)
(crying)
(crying continues)
ABBY:
After 12 hours in agony,
I fell asleep
on the bathroom floor.
It occurred to me that this was
the way I was going to die.
I wondered who would find me.
I prayed it wouldn't be
my mother.
NURSE (over phone):
It's not abnormal.
Not abnormal?
The bleeding,
the clotting, the pain?
That is normal?
NURSE: Use heating pads,
soak in a warm tub,
- take ibuprofen.
- (scoffs)
How could you not have
told me about this?
W-What happened to
gently emptying my uterus?
That is what I was told
would happen.
Look, I'm sorry,
but I have another patient.
(line clicks,
dial tone humming)
ABBY:
Eight weeks passed.
Eight weeks of blood clots.
- (sniffles) -Eight weeks
of excruciating cramps.
And when it was finally over,
my anger had disappeared,
only to be replaced
by self-Ioathing.
Meaning I no longer blamed
Planned Parenthood
for everything that happened.
I blamed myself.
(phone ringing)
It doesn't look like
we're gonna get
Dr. Plummer on Saturday,
but I can call Dr. Wagner.
- ABBY: Renee. - That sounds
good. Give him a call. - Cool.
CHERYL: Abby. Hi.
We haven't seen you in a while.
Um, yeah, I've been busy.
Well, it's good
to have you back.
By the way,
we have an opportunity
I think you might be
perfect for.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
ABBY:
Howdy.
- Are you familiar with Planned
Parenthood? - Not really.
ABBY:
So there I was,
proudly waving
the Planned Parenthood banner.
And six months later,
after I graduated with
my degree in psychology,
my cause became my career,
despite the disapproval of
virtually everyone in my life.
The way I see it,
the real issue is viability.
At that point, the fetus
could live outside the womb.
But before that,
it's just undeveloped tissue
that couldn't possibly
survive on its own.
Abby, how can you say it's
okay to abort at eight weeks
but not at 24?
Viability keeps changing
as medical science improves.
Are you saying that the measure
of what's moral or immoral
changes as
medical science advances?
What I'm saying is that
I'm not going to apologize
for doing a job
that helps women in crisis.
I love my job.
I am committed to doing it.
It is who I am.
It is part of
what makes me me.
Take it or leave it.
Fair warning, Doug.
Dr. Dobson's book
The Strong-Willed Child
was one of the first books
I ever bought.
I still own it.
All right,
who's up for dessert?
Abby, sweetie,
why don't you help me?
Thank you.
You won't believe
what happened this week.
A woman came in
with abdominal pain,
and when we examined her,
we discovered
it was uterine cancer.
That's nice.
You don't even care.
More than you realize,
sweetie.
Will you take these out
to the table for me, please?
(sighs)
Okay.
Right now, I need you to listen
to me and not say anything.
I know you don't agree,
but to your dad and me,
you were our baby
from the moment of conception.
I know it's not how you feel,
but it's how we feel.
You don't like
where she's working?
I can't stand it.
But you still
want to marry her?
Oh, absolutely.
- Well, ain't love grand?
- (chuckles)
(Mendelssohn's
"Wedding March" playing)
(music continues over speakers)
(quietly): You're not supposed
to look happier than I do.
Why not?
You got it right this time.
ABBY: So there I was,
making my vows again.
Who gives this woman today
to be married to this man?
MIKE:
Her mother and I.
ABBY:
This time with a guy
who actually loved me.
MARILISA: We do have other days
that you can volunteer
or other shifts
if this isn't one
that works out for you, but...
Just one second. Hold on.
Abby.
Hi, Marilisa.
Any sign of the Grim Reaper?
- No, thankfully.
- Mm.
You look really nice today.
Well, thank you.
I am the new counselor.
Well, I am sure
you are going to be
the best counselor
they have ever had.
Friend?
- Fianc.
- Oh. (laughs)
Yeah. She makes me come here.
Liar. He was out here
praying most Saturdays.
All he did was change it
to every Saturday.
Well, congratulations, you two.
I wish you every happiness.
Thanks, Abby.
ABBY:
At this stage,
between six and eight weeks,
it's just fetal matter,
a lump of tissue,
not much more than a polyp
or a blood clot.
- So it's not a baby yet?
- No, not at all.
- And it can't feel any pain?
- None whatsoever.
That's a concern
for a lot of women.
And to be honest,
it was a concern for me, too.
But the one thing
that all experts agree on
is that, at this stage,
the fetus can't feel anything.
- There's still a part of me
that isn't sure. - I know.
Trust me.
Nobody wants
to have an abortion.
Not like they want a new car
or an ice-cream cone.
But most of the women
who sit in that chair
already know
that this is a pregnancy
they aren't prepared
to deal with.
It just takes a little time
to realize it.
(sniffles softly)
Assuming that you want
to go forward,
the procedure we'll be
performing is called a vacuum...
ABBY: About that time,
Doug and I decided
that we wanted to make worship
a part of our lives.
We found a church
that seemed to be a good fit.
But most Sunday mornings, I
just felt left out in the cold.
"For You created
my innermost being.
"You knit me together
in my mother's womb.
"I praise You because
I am fearfully
"and wonderfully made.
All Your works are wonderful,
and I know them full well."
What's awesome about
this passage is that we see
that in-in the silence
of the womb,
God is still forming
and fashioning people
in His image
and in His likeness.
- Yeah.
- I know exactly how you feel.
I mean, I'm Catholic,
and, on Sunday, I heard
a sermon about abortion.
(scoffs) I don't care
what anyone says.
I know that I'm doing
God's work here.
Well, you guys will never guess
who knocked on my door
last night.
- Who?
- (laughs): Shawn Carney.
- Shut up.
- Wait, wait, wait.
Sheriff Woody at the fence?
- That Shawn Carney?
- RENEE: Yeah. Oh, yeah.
- What did he want?
- Oh, it was so weird.
I open the door,
and I recognize him.
I'm like, "I know who you are."
And he recognizes me, too,
and he gets all bashful.
And he's like,
"Well, we're-we're just doing
"this, uh, simple campaign.
- (laughs) -"We're trying
to get people to pray
for an end to abortion
for the next, like, 40 days."
And I said, "40 days? Like
Noah and the flood 40 days?"
- Stop! - No!
- I did.
- I know. And he's like...
- You are horrible.
Oh, you would've said the same.
- I... You would've
said the same. - (laughter)
- Okay, hold on,
hold on, hold on. - Yeah?
How many doors
is he knocking on?
Try and guess. You can't.
25,000.
- Where?
- Yeah. Everywhere.
Everywhere.
- How is that even possible?
- What does that even mean?
- You think he's lying?
- No.
Kid like that
doesn't know how to lie.
- That's true. - (laughs)
- Pro-lifers are so serious.
ABBY:
Mmm.
- (microwave bell dings)
- Cheryl, those shoes
- are amazing.
- I know. Thank you.
- You really fit here.
- Thank you.
Are you enjoying it?
Yeah, absolutely.
(chuckles)
You know what,
I think it's time
for you to take the next step.
I'd like you to meet me in
the POC room in five minutes.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Did you hear that?
- Mm-hmm.
I really fit in here.
Mm-hmm. Do you know
what POC stands for?
Products of conception.
Pieces of children.
Hope you had a light breakfast.
ABBY:
In our facility,
the POC room was
the Holy of Holies.
Most of the staff
never set foot in there.
After a surgical abortion,
each fetus
had to be carefully reassembled
in a petri dish
to make sure that none of
its parts were missing.
Because if they were,
it meant that they were
still inside the patient.
By the end of the day,
there'd be 30 or 40 dishes,
and the doctors would
have to sign off on each one.
I want you to see something.
Go ahead.
It's amazing.
You can see everything.
Do you know what's happened
with every other person
who's come in here
and seen one of these?
The first thing they do?
They cry.
But not you.
That's how I know
you're the one.
Very soon,
I'll be called up to Houston,
and someone will need
to replace me here.
Personally,
I'd like it to be you.
I'd be honored.
Good.
Babe, are you sure
you're not pregnant?
No, I am not pregnant.
Okay.
What makes you think that?
Nothing in particular.
Doug, I counsel pregnant women
every day,
so don't you think
that if I were to conceive,
despite being on the pill,
that I would be aware of it?
Yeah, you're right.
Forget I said anything.
- Do you have a test kit handy?
- Yeah.
For who?
(toilet flushes)
(water runs, stops)
You know, we could take care
of that for you if you'd like.
(door closes)
What?!
Honey, that's wonderful!
I-I didn't even know
you were trying!
We weren't.
Well, sometimes
the Lord just has a plan.
- There's no chance...
- Don't worry, Mom.
I never would have told you
if I wasn't sure.
You're gonna be a grandpa.
Ab?
Hey, girl.
Oh, we couldn't be
more proud of you.
And you're committed
to carrying this pregnancy
to term?
I am.
We are.
We only have so much time,
so much energy.
If you choose
to spend it elsewhere,
there's less of you for here.
I'm only telling you this
for your own good.
I understand,
but once this baby's born,
I promise,
I am back on the pill,
and maybe this time
it will do its job.
Look, I already warned Doug,
we are one and done.
So, in the meantime,
do you want to move me
to the lab or recovery?
No.
Don't you think
it'll make women uncomfortable
- once I start to show?
- No.
If anything, it will
encourage them to abort.
One of these was just
administered in Exam Room 3.
- Okay. - And this is from
Dr. Stevens in Room 1.
1. Thank you.
- ROB: Listen to what Abby says.
- Rob, Christina, hi.
Abby, I am so glad you're here.
I really appreciate you
helping us out with this.
Oh, don't worry. We're gonna
take great care of her.
Hey, it's okay to be
a little bit nervous,
but there's absolutely nothing
to worry about.
- Here's a packet.
- Thank you.
Come on.
I'll get you checked in, okay?
Go.
CHRISTINA:
My parents are really
pressuring me to do this.
But what if I'm still
making a mistake?
You're not.
Okay? High school is no time
to start raising a baby.
Just relax.
The doctor's gonna be in
in just a few minutes, okay?
Can you stay in here with me?
Sweetie, I would,
but I am just a counselor.
They don't want me in here
during the procedure.
The whole thing will take
just a couple of minutes,
and I will check in on you
in the recovery room,
and I promise you
that everything will be okay.
(audio distorted,
drips echoing)
Oh, my God.
Elena!
- Is something wrong?
- No, no, baby, you're fine.
You're fine. We need
to get her back in, now.
Get the chair!
Okay, baby, we're gonna
get you to stand up.
- Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.
- Easy!
ABBY:
It's gonna be okay.
- ELENA: What do I do?
- Get her on the table.
Just... Oh, my gosh.
- I got you. I got you.
- You got her?
Oh, my God,
there's so much blood!
Where are the pads?!
Where are the pads?!
- Um, the bottom-bottom drawer!
- Where?
Bottom drawer!
That's where they keep them!
- So much blood.
- We need to stop the bleeding.
It's gonna be okay.
- Elena, get a doctor!
- Oh, my gosh! Okay! Okay!
- Doctor!
- It's gonna be okay.
- Doctor!
- Why is this happening?
I don't understand.
I don't understand.
Damn it!
Get out of the way! Gauze!
- I need more gauze, now!
- I don't know where it is.
- Bring me the tray.
- ABBY: Okay, okay, okay.
- ELENA: What do I do?
What do I do? - Start an I.V.
ELENA: I don't understand
what's happening.
ABBY:
Here's the gauze.
- Make it stop. Make it stop.
- ELENA: She's so pale.
NURSE: Uterus is reading black,
completely black!
ABBY: What does that mean?
What does that mean?
- What does that mean?
- It's full of blood!
ELENA:
She's dying! Oh, my God!
This isn't my job.
This isn't what I do.
- Hello, hello.
- Okay, okay.
Oh!
NURSE: Her pressure's
60 over 40, pulse is thready.
She's gonna need a transfusion.
DOCTOR: All we have is plasma,
so start her on a drip.
- Oh, God. - DOCTOR: Suction.
- ABBY: What went wrong?
- Why is this happening?
- Abby, calm down. Calm down.
He's perforated the uterus,
apparently without even
realizing it.
It's a good thing
you found her when you did.
ABBY: Okay, I'm gonna
call an ambulance!
- DOCTOR: No! No ambulance!
- (crying) -No!
- Cheryl, explain it to her!
- No.
We do not do that.
We never do that.
Think about
all the protesters outside.
You call an ambulance,
and there's a picture of that
in the papers.
911 calls are recorded.
They can be made public.
And there's no way in hell I'm
going to allow that to happen.
Yeah, but she could die,
and then if she does...
She is not going to die,
and she is not gonna
remember any of this.
How do you know she's not
gonna remember anything?
We use a very strong
combination of medication.
Even when we wake her up,
she won't remember any of this.
Push another round in her
of some fentanyl.
- I'm not comfortable with that.
- Uh, you know what?!
I don't care if you're
comfortable! Just do it!
Injecting coagulant
directly into the cervix.
(air hissing)
(monitor beeping steadily)
See?
Everything's under control.
- Her pressure's dropping.
- ABBY: I'm not leaving.
I'm not leaving
until she's okay.
(Abby crying softly)
It's been two hours.
- You said it was five minutes.
- Abby... you know Abby.
Please tell me what... I-I need
to know what's going on.
- Okay, I'm gonna go back
and check. - Please help me
- find out what's happened
to my daughter. - I'm gonna
go back and check. I'm sure
everything is okay, okay?
- Will you, please?
- I-I'll be right back, okay?
Thank you.
(phones ringing, quiet chatter)
(quietly):
I'm so sorry.
Hey, we are really
backing up out there.
And her father keeps asking
why it's taking so long.
Thank you.
Abby?
If you're going to run
this clinic one day,
I need to trust
that you're not gonna panic
at the sight of a little blood.
Now go out there and reassure
him that everything is fine.
(sighs)
Just a little blood.
Rob. Hey.
Christina's fine.
But we had another patient
who forgot to mention
an allergy to a medication
that we use.
So it's taking a little longer
than we'd like.
- So she's okay?
- Oh, yes, she's...
- Everything's all right?
- She's fine.
(sighs):
Oh, thank God.
So how much longer
is she gonna be?
Well, the doctor
should be in any second.
The procedure only takes
a few minutes,
and recovery will be
just a little longer.
Thank you, Abby.
I'll let you know
as soon as she's out, okay?
Thank you.
("Cecie's Lullaby"
by Steffany Gretzinger playing)
ABBY: It took the doctor
almost another hour,
but he finally got
Christina stabilized.
Call my name
And I will answer
All you need
Is here inside my arms
Just breathe
And you'll be
safe and sound
With me
ABBY:
Rob?
Christina.
How are you, baby?
Tired.
I just want to go home.
Abby, thank you.
I really appreciate
what you've done for us.
I'll not forget it.
Thank you.
Let's get you home.
'Cause no one knows you
better than me
And no one's been
a better friend
So rock-a-bye baby
Come and rest
You've been tired lately
Lay your head down
Don't you think, baby,
I know best?
I've been a father
for a long time...
We are all locked up.
- Everybody's gone?
- Mm-hmm.
- Recovery room?
- Empty.
- And Cheryl?
- Just pulled out of the lot.
- ALL: Surprise!
- (laughter)
- Yay!
- We're having a baby!
(whooping, laughter)
ABBY:
And later that afternoon,
after terminating
38 pregnancies
in the space of four hours,
we spent two hours
celebrating mine
with cake and flowers
and baby gifts.
- Aw. - This is so soft, too.
- Okay.
MARILISA:
Abby!
- You're expecting!
- (chuckles)
- What gave it away?
- (laughs)
When are you due?
- Thanksgiving.
- Mine, too.
Seriously?
- You're so tiny.
- (chuckles)
Not for much longer.
Think about how much fun
Christmas will be.
Is there any greater blessing
than a new baby?
It's okay.
And I agree.
In the right circumstances.
- Good to see you, Abby.
- You, too.
(sighs)
(chuckles)
(laughs)
ABBY:
Around that time,
Shawn Carney and his friends
started their first ever
40 Days for Life prayer-a-thon.
24 hours a day,
seven days a week,
there were people praying
outside of our clinic.
CHERYL:
These are extremist zealots
that will stop at nothing
to restrict
a woman's right to choose.
So, are you concerned for your
safety and that of your staff?
Yes, absolutely. Violence
is a real possibility...
ABBY:
Cheryl was beside herself,
but I didn't
pay much attention.
I was otherwise engaged.
(screaming)
(panting)
(groans loudly)
Baby? Baby?
I hate to tell you this,
but he says you're only
two centimeters apart.
What?!
(screams)
Maybe it was a bad time
to bring it up.
Just shut up!
Just don't-don't touch me.
ABBY:
And a mere 22 hours later...
(groans)
Two centimeters!
...I gave birth
to a precious baby girl.
- We named her Grace.
- He's downstairs.
He hasn't seen a poopy diaper
in a long time,
and I think now's the
perfect time to show him one.
Oh, he'll love that.
(chuckles)
Are you looking forward
to being home?
Yeah, for the next
eight weeks, I am.
Don't you think
that child needs you?
And she'll have me.
Cheryl's being promoted
and transferred to Houston.
She wants me to be
the director of the clinic.
I would be
the youngest director
in Planned Parenthood history.
It's not the kind of
opportunity you just pass up.
Abby, I don't know
what you want me to say.
I'm proud of
your accomplishments. I am.
But I can't pretend to like
your choice of career.
Have you thought about
the fact that, as the director,
you'll actually be in charge of
the abortions at your clinic?
Don't you see
that it's different
from counseling women
about their choices?
Sure, but now I can make ours
the best clinic
in the entire affiliate.
And decrease the number
of unwanted pregnancies.
This is my chance
to make a real difference.
Mom, what's wrong?
I guess I hoped
that Grace's birth
meant the end of all this.
But, um, obviously it doesn't.
She's not leaving.
I have to believe
that she will, sooner or later.
No. (sniffles)
She won't.
She's got aspirations.
(sighs)
(Doug sighs)
Babe, are we ever gonna
sleep again?
No.
But you're the one that gets
to get up tonight. (sighs)
I get up every night.
(Abby sighs)
I'm gonna pray that if I'm not
supposed to get the job,
then I won't get the promotion.
But you already applied
for the job, right?
Yeah. So?
So you're asking God
to show His will
by stopping something that
you've already set in motion.
Why not? He's God.
He can intervene.
If I get the job,
I'll know that it's His will
for me to run the clinic.
Whatever you say, hon.
Good night.
ABBY: The next day,
I got the promotion.
From now on, no more
harassing the protesters
or calling the police
unless we've identified
someone as dangerous.
Wait, so we're just gonna give
the anti-choicers a free pass?
We're going to treat them
with respect
- and expect the same in return.
- (phone ringing)
And definitely no turning on
the sprinklers.
Planned Parenthood.
This is Renee.
No more letting them
get under our skin
or losing our tempers.
We're doing a good thing here,
and the best way
to reinforce that
isn't with words but actions.
Okay. Okay, ma'am.
Of course.
Abby, there's a woman
circling the block right now,
and she can't come in because
somebody's filming outside.
This is the third complaint
this morning.
I'll take care of this.
Okay. Ma'am, I am
so sorry about that.
My boss is on it right now.
Are you getting everything?
Uh-oh.
- Hi. - Hi. Hi, Abby.
I-I hear you've been promoted.
Yeah.
I'll understand if you're not
anxious to congratulate me.
No, actually I was
thinking that
the women coming in here
will finally have someone
who cares about them
running things.
Is this your camera?
- Yes.
- I need it gone.
I'm sorry,
but we can't do that.
Sure, you can.
Just take it off the tripod,
pack it up and take it back
to your office.
Abby, we've been accused
of a lot of things,
some of them criminal.
This camera is our best
evidence that what we're doing
is peaceful
and nonconfrontational.
Shawn, this is not the way
that you want to start out
our new relationship, okay?
Just angle it away from the
fence; that's all I'm asking.
Can't do it. We need to see
what's actually going on.
If there's ever any question,
we need it to be clear.
Mm-hmm.
Sometimes I don't mind
you guys,
but this morning,
you're really pissing me off.
And for your information,
Shawn, there have always been
people willing to defend
basic human rights.
First there was
the fight against slavery.
Then it was the people who
stood up against the Holocaust.
Later it was a battle
for civil rights.
And now it is
Planned Parenthood standing up
for the reproductive rights
of women.
Abby, you don't need
to justify your job...
I'm not justifying
anything, okay?
I'm just trying
to explain to you...
And you don't need to explain
what you're doing either.
The truth is
you've just cited
three examples of injustice:
Slavery, segregation
and the Holocaust.
That can only occur
when a whole segment
of the population
is dehumanized.
And that's exactly what Planned
Parenthood does to the unborn.
Well, that went well.
Yeah. She'll be fine.
(screaming, shouting)
What are you smiling about?
You got to give her this.
She got us to move the camera.
(laughter)
ABBY: Part of my job
as clinic director
was selling abortions,
and I was really good at it.
You know those guys
who try to sell you time-shares
in places
you never even heard of?
They had nothing on me.
But, Jane,
you're eight weeks pregnant.
You've already spent $150
on an ultrasound.
If I book you today,
I'm authorized to credit that
towards the cost
of your procedure.
But if you walk
out of this office,
then the soonest I can book you
again is two weeks from today.
And at ten weeks,
the price goes up $100,
plus you lose the discount.
Choosing to wait's gonna
cost you an additional $250.
So, is there any reason
that we shouldn't go ahead
and schedule
your appointment today?
You take credit cards, right?
Absolutely.
Okay, can I put you
on hold, please?
Okay, thanks.
I'm not doing this.
This is all you.
Hi. This is Abby Johnson.
I'm the clinic director.
RHONDA:
Do you have a back parking lot?
One where, like, I can't be
seen from the street?
No, I'm sorry, we don't.
All of our parking
is out front.
Is there a problem?
No. It's not
that big of a deal.
It's just that my family's
outside the clinic praying.
They know that
I'm coming in today,
and they're trying
to talk me out of it.
Okay. Um, how about this?
Park as close as you can
to the door,
and I will come out
and escort you in.
Rhonda. Rhonda, baby,
please don't do this.
(crying):
Pl-Please.
Please don't do this.
W-Whatever you need,
you can come live with us.
Hey, Lily. Hi.
Hey, baby.
(sobs softly)
LILY:
Why are you crying, Grammy?
Grammy's just
a little upset, okay?
- Hey, baby, let's go inside.
- Love you.
Let's go inside
with Mommy, okay?
Mommy's coming, too.
Let's go.
That baby you're carrying...
it's gonna be
just as beautiful as Lily.
Rhonda, think about the joy
that she's brought us!
Now think about
a world without her!
Rhonda, don't do this!
- Rhonda!
- Are you okay?
Because if you need
to talk about it,
you know, it seems like
you have a lot of support
from your family if you decided
to keep the baby.
It's okay.
That's just my mom.
It's how she is.
Trust me, I'm fine.
RHONDA'S MOM: Please, I can't
go through this!
(door buzzes)
- Rhonda!
- ABBY: Fine?
- How could she be fine?
- (crying): God, help me.
I was deeply shaken
by what I'd just seen.
(crying):
Help me. Help me, God.
ABBY: The family stayed
and prayed for an hour.
Then another hour.
Then finally they went home.
("We Dance" by
Steffany Gretzinger playing)
Someday...
this place is gonna close.
It has to.
Take the lead
and I will follow...
I can't continue with
this constant heartache.
ABBY:
I couldn't stop thinking about
the abortions I'd hidden
from my own mom.
And later,
once the building was empty,
I did something I'd avoided
for a long time.
When my faith gets tired
and my hope seems lost
You spin me round and round
and remind me of that song
The one You wrote for me
And I've been told
To pick up my sword
and fight for love
Little did I know
that love had won for me
Here in Your arms
You still my heart again
And I breathe You in like
I've never breathed till now
When my faith gets tired
and my hope seems lost...
Do you have any idea
how much I love you?
And remind me of that song
The one You wrote for me
And we dance
Oh, we dance
Oh
Oh, and we dance, we dance
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
We dance
Just You and me
It's nice to know,
not alone
I found my home
here in Your arms.
ABBY:
For a while, life settled into
a predictable routine.
Looking back, it was like
a calm before the storm,
a really big storm.
Mention "Houston" and
"hurricane" in the same breath,
and people immediately
think of Harvey.
Not many folks remember
Hurricane Ike,
which is really weird
given that, when it landed,
it was the third
most destructive hurricane
in U.S. History.
And what made Ike even scarier
was that it was headed
straight for us.
...where it will make landfall,
but by Saturday, somewhere...
CHERYL:
Are you watching this?
...dealing with
a Category 4 monster.
You need to contact
all of your scheduled clients
and tell them to stay home.
But we have 40 women
depending on us.
Some of them can't wait
another two weeks.
It'll be past the cutoff.
Can't we wait a little longer
before canceling?
Mm, no. If anything were
to happen, we could be sued.
We cannot afford the liability.
I mean, at this point,
half of Houston's already
packing up to leave.
What if I bring in
everyone early,
I rebook the doctor for Friday
instead of Saturday?
I'll have everyone
in and out by 3:00 p.m.
Mm, I don't know
if that's a good idea.
We have to call
all the clients anyway.
And we'll give them the choice:
Rebook two weeks from now
or come in tomorrow.
Do it.
Thank you.
REPORTER: Motorists
stranded, major winds,
and loss of power potentially
for several million customers.
- We absolutely cannot be here
on Saturday. - MEGAN: Wait. Why?
The building's solid,
and we have a backup generator.
But traveling is
going to be impossible,
with falling trees,
downed power lines,
not to mention the flooding.
Plus, it's probably gonna be
illegal to drive
by tomorrow night.
We need to call
every woman on this list.
They can't come on Saturday.
I'm hoping to rebook them
for tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
I'm bringing in two surgeons.
We're running procedures
in both rooms simultaneously.
Everything needs to run
like clockwork.
We don't have time
to make mistakes.
Once the last patient is
through recovery, we're gone.
No paperwork, no cleanup.
We bolt the door, race home,
and hunker down.
But to make this work, we're
gonna need everyone's help.
So are you guys in?
- Yeah, I'm in.
Whatever you need. - Yeah.
- RENEE: Let's do it.
- Okay.
Then let's divvy this up
and get started.
("Overcomer"
by Mandisa playing)
We want to be discreet
because... (voice fades)
Whatever it is
you may be going through...
ABBY:
And the following day,
with less than
18 hours' notice,
we brought in every one
of our scheduled patients,
- performed their procedures
- (thunder rumbling)
And got them safely home.
- Ashley...
- Stay in the fight
Till the final round
You're not going under
You're not
going under
'Cause God is holding you
right now...
ABBY:
Including two women
whose loser boyfriends
bailed on them
while they were inside,
something that happened pretty
routinely, even on normal days.
(thunder rumbling)
- Mommy, you're home!
- Oh, hi, baby.
Mommy is wet.
(chuckles)
- Are you okay?
- Yeah, baby. Why?
Your shoes are all bloody.
Oh. You know what?
Mommy was helping a lady
at the office,
and she had a nosebleed.
But I took care of her,
and she's all better now.
Okay?
Guess what I'd really like
to do right now.
What?
Have a tea party,
just you and me.
Yay!
- I'll go get it all set up.
- (footsteps running up stairs)
Proud of yourself?
Nobody ever said
abortion was pretty.
(thunder rumbling)
(birds chirping)
CHERYL: Our first order
of business is to present
Planned Parenthood's
Employee of the Year award.
And the award goes to...
Abby Johnson.
- Congratulations, Abby.
- Thank you.
And, ladies, I don't think
it's any coincidence
that Abby's clinic
is the only one to be
consistently on target
on a month-to-month basis.
- Well done.
- (applause)
Second, I can finally confirm
the rumors that have been
swirling around.
National has given
its approval.
Gulf Coast will soon be
breaking ground
on this facility.
- (cheering)
- WOMAN: Yeah.
- (chuckles) Wow.
- CHERYL: That's right.
78,000 square feet
of state-of-the-art
medical center,
making us the largest
ambulatory surgical facility
in the Western Hemisphere,
allowing us to perform
procedures all the way
to 24 weeks.
But we're facing
some challenges as well.
Three hurricanes in four years
have emptied our cash reserves,
so take note.
We are expanding
chemically induced abortions
to every day of the week.
Now take a look
at the learning packets
in front of you, if you would.
And there you will find
that each of your clinics
are being assigned
growth targets
to double last year's totals
on elective terminations.
- Has she lost her mind?
- Because our margin is better
on chemicals than surgicals,
with no doctors
cutting into our fees,
we are going to...
Abby?
Well, it's just that
abortion has never been
my main priority.
Just look at our mission
statement on page three.
"To provide
a comprehensive range
"of reproductive health care
and sexual health information
through patient services,
education and advocacy."
That's what
I'm committed to doing.
So, if our stated goal is
to decrease the number
of abortions
by reducing the number
of unwanted pregnancies,
then why are we being asked
to double our abortion count?
Why don't we turn to page four.
Thank you.
(clears throat softly)
CHERYL:
Abby.
Frankly, I am shocked at the
way you sabotaged me in there.
Is this how you thank me for
all that I have done for you?
- Cheryl, I wasn't trying...
- No, Abby,
let me explain
something to you.
Fast food outlets
look to break even
on the hamburgers they sell.
That's all they do
is break even.
Do you know
how they make their money?
- No. - On the french fries
and the soda,
the low-cost high-margin items.
Cheryl, I'm sorry,
but I don't understand...
Abortion is our fries and soda,
but somehow you've just decided
that it's no longer
your priority.
Abortion is
what pays your salary.
It pays for
your matching 401 (k),
your four weeks vacation,
your ample sick time.
Abortion... abortion is
what pays for all of it,
for you and your family.
Now, I didn't say anything when
you decided to get married,
and I said very little when
you chose to become a mother,
although I knew
it would impact your work.
But as clinic director,
we are paying you
to be a perfect instrument
of corporate policy.
And corporate policy is simple.
We are an abortion provider.
But we're
a nonprofit organization.
Nonprofit is a tax status,
not a business model.
ABBY:
Can you believe that she
humiliated me like that?
I mean, I'm just
standing there with my award,
looking like an idiot.
And how am I supposed to double
the number of abortions?
Am I supposed to go driving
around the neighborhood,
telling everybody
to get pregnant?
I don't think that would work.
You're so funny.
- Do you want a glass?
- Yes, please.
You're gonna need one,
because you know
what really pisses me off?
What really pisses me off
is that they are
building the largest and most
advanced clinic in the country
so that we can perform
abortions up to 24 weeks.
That is a line
I said I would never cross.
Okay, pretend for a second
that you're someone like me
who believes
all abortions are bad.
What's the difference?
Okay. First of all,
if we do them really late,
third trimester,
it becomes a three-day ordeal.
It's no longer
a surgical procedure.
It's labor and delivery.
On the first day,
they introduce a demise.
- Wait. A demise?
- Euthanize the fetus.
They stop the heart
by injecting digoxin
through the uterine wall
directly into the baby's heart.
Day two,
they induce contractions.
Day three, it's the delivery,
an artificially induced
childbirth
of a terminated fetus.
Abby...
you're killing me.
Doug, you were the one
who asked the question.
Yeah, I know, I know, but...
Well, who am I supposed
to talk to about this?
I don't know.
All right? I don't know.
All I know is that here we are,
eight years later,
and you're still thinking
that you can change them
when the only thing
that's changed is you, Abby.
Can you even hear yourself
talk right now
about these procedures?
These are little babies,
with a little brain
- and little hearts, little
fingers, little toes. - Doug.
- Doug...
- I just love you so much,
I can hardly bear to watch it.
(sighs)
(quiet knocking on glass)
Hey, you.
You need a break.
We... we need a break.
I would love to,
but I have a lot of work to do.
You only get
one day off a week,
and I'm not gonna
let you sit here slaving
for Planned Parenthood.
So, grab your things.
We're heading for
the most thoroughly awesome
Mexican food on the planet.
And if you play
your cards right...
I might get lucky?
Actually, I was thinking
I might throw in nachos,
but, hey, I'm okay
with your suggestion.
- I bet you are.
I'll be right back. - (chuckles)
(mariachi music playing,
quiet chatter)
One pumpkin ale for you
- and a margarita for you.
- Thank you.
Guys, I'll be back in a second
to take your order.
Ah. Here's your menu.
Pick you out something
real nice,
'cause I know
what I'm going with.
All right, so then
what are you having?
Only the biggest, wettest,
nastiest carnitas chimichanga
ever to come out
of that kitchen,
- if I have anything
to say about it. - (laughs)
So, how about you?
Mm, well, step aside, muchacho,
because I am having...
you ready for it?
The chocolate caramel
dulce de leche dessert nachos.
What? Toast to that.
(chuckles)
This is good.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Pace yourself, though.
We're just getting started.
- Oh, is that right? (chuckles)
- Mm-hmm.
Okay, so what is next?
I'm thinking a film festival
at our place.
- Heads, you get Gone with
the Wind. - (chuckles)
Tails, I get The Goonies.
No! I knew you were gonna say
The Goonies.
I am not watching those kids
- go through puberty again.
- It's a cult classic.
(chuckles):
No.
- Give it a chance.
- No. Okay, all right.
We will compromise
and watch 300.
Is it any wonder why I love you?
- 300 it is.
- (chuckles)
To us.
Gracie at the parents',
a night alone.
How good is this?
REPORTER (over TV):
...Dr. George Tiller has died
after being gunned down
inside his own church.
One of the few such providers
in the country, Dr. Tiller was
shot in the head this morning
during worship services.
Police say they are
searching for a suspect
- to offer protection to other
appropriate people -Let's go.
And facilities
around the nation.
- Now. Come on.
- The 67-year-old Tiller
had offered abortions
for more than three decades,
performing by his own estimate
roughly 60,000 procedures.
Dr. Tiller was
the medical director
of Women's Health Services...
What kind of person would shoot
someone in the head in church?
Doug, I knew him.
He had a family.
I know, Ab.
Right now, all I care about
is picking up Grace
and getting the two of you
home safely.
You think I'm in danger?
I don't know, but I'm not
taking any chances.
Are you okay, sweetheart?
I'm fine, Mom.
- Ready?
- Yeah.
Wait, don't you think
it makes more sense
- for you to spend the
night here? - Come on.
It's false sympathy.
That's what it is.
All these pro-lifers
condemning a killer's actions
like they care?
I think they're just trying
to avoid the blame.
ABBY:
It doesn't matter, okay?
What matters is that
we keep everyone here...
that means you, me, all of us
and our clients... safe.
We need to pay
special attention to anything
- that seems out of place.
- (phone ringing)
Planned Parenthood.
This is Renee.
It's Houston, for you.
- This is Abby.
- This is Susan from HR.
I need you to come to Houston.
Can you drive down
this afternoon?
Um, it's kind of short notice.
Is this about Tiller?
No, Abby, it's about you.
Cheryl and I would like
to meet with you.
Okay. I'll be there
as soon as I can.
Corporate wants
to meet with me.
Abby, we've called you here
to let you know
you're being
formally reprimanded.
What am I being
reprimanded for?
You've been challenging me
and my authority.
You've become combative,
disputing my directives,
arguing and pushing back.
I'm your supervisor.
Therefore, it's your job
to follow my instructions.
In my eight years
at Planned Parenthood,
I have never received
anything less than praise.
I've not had
a single black mark,
not a warning,
much less a reprimand.
You just honored me
as Employee of the Year.
No one has been
more committed than I have.
SUSAN: Nonetheless,
the reprimand stands.
I'll need you to sign
this acknowledgment
that we had this talk
and you are aware of it.
ABBY: I know this might be
hard to believe,
but I went back to the clinic
the next morning,
more determined than ever
to do my job
to the best of my ability.
Is that what I think it is?
Afraid so.
Do you mind if we pray over it?
- I don't know about that, man.
- Please?
Look, I'm not
some kind of monster.
I-I'm just a guy who drives
a truck. I don't...
We'll be quick. We'll stay
on this side of the fence.
Okay. (sighs)
(grunts softly)
You might want to wait.
I got another one coming out.
- (quiet knock) -Hey, Abby.
Sorry to bother you,
but they need an extra person
in the back room.
- Are you free?
- Sure.
Hi. Megan said you needed
some assistance?
(door closes, echoes)
Lord, we commend the souls
of these hundreds of children,
whose true names
are known only to You,
to Your keeping.
For we know they are with You
now and forever.
We pray for healing for the
wounded mothers and fathers.
And, Lord, we pray
to end the sin
of abortion.
For in Your word, you have
promised, "If My people
- "who are called by My name
- (Marilisa crying softly)
"Will humble themselves
and pray and seek My face
"and turn from
their wicked ways,
"then I will hear from Heaven,
and I will forgive their sin,
and I will heal their land."
Abby Johnson
is in the other room.
Here?
She wants out.
(sniffling, crying softly)
Rough day at the office?
(sniffles) Yeah.
Yeah, uh...
you could say that.
SHAWN:
Want to talk about it?
(sniffles) Thanks.
I saw it. (sobs)
And it moved.
And it was like it was twisting
and fighting for its life.
(sniffles)
(crying):
This tiny...
tiny, perfect little baby.
And then it was just gone.
(sniffles)
(sighs)
I'm gonna go in on Monday,
and I'm gonna
put in my resignation,
and (sniffles) that's it.
- Just like that?
- Just like that.
(sighs) I...
I never want to be
a part of an abortion again.
(phone vibrating)
(sniffling)
(vibrating stops)
(sniffles)
Everybody's looking for me
and asking if I'm okay.
How long have you been gone?
Almost an hour.
On a Saturday?
Won't that
make them suspicious?
(chuckles softly)
They would never guess
I was here.
They-they wouldn't understand.
Abby, we can help you
find another job.
We've always told you
we're here to help.
We can help you or anyone at
the clinic who wants to leave.
Are you serious?
You would really help me?
Yes, of course.
In the meantime,
don't tell anyone
that you're done with
Planned Parenthood.
Don't underestimate
the repercussions of this.
You got to be careful, got it?
I'll walk you out the back.
- Less chance of anyone
seeing you. - (sniffles)
You'll get through this
Just follow the light
in the darkness
One step closer
Put one foot
in front of the other
You'll get through this
Just follow the light
in the darkness
You're gonna be okay.
- You should... Here you go.
- Man, this puzzle is very hard.
I know, but, look,
here's two more edges.
That may be all we need.
- We're close now.
- Oh, here's one.
Hi, baby.
Is that it right there?
You will never guess
where I was today.
Um, Shawn's office?
How could you
possibly know that?
I don't know.
It's just that, with
the conversations we've had
and all that's been going on
lately, I figured you might
reach out to him at some point.
That...
- plus the look on your face.
- (chuckles)
I'm gonna do it, Doug.
I'm gonna leave.
DOUG:
Have you told your mom yet?
Not yet.
I want to be out the door.
I want it to be over
before I do.
Here you go.
Abby, what's wrong?
Megan, I need
to tell you something.
You have to promise
not to tell anyone.
Yeah, no, I-I won't.
I'm leaving
Planned Parenthood.
I have to get out.
I can't be
a part of this anymore.
You're leaving?
I went over to
40 Days for Life that day.
They were so amazing.
They just sat and listened
while I cried.
And they're really
gonna help you?
Yeah, they are.
I mean, no judgment,
no condemnation.
They're even gonna help me
find another job.
So, when do you leave?
Today.
(chuckles) I know
Cheryl is going to lose it
- when she finds out.
- Yeah. (chuckles)
But... I'm gonna type up
my resignation,
and at 5:01, I am sending it
to HR in Houston,
and I am gonna walk out that
front door like any other day.
(chuckles):
Geez.
Are you gonna tell Taylor, too?
Of course.
You guys are my best friends.
But you're the only ones
who can know, no one else.
Of course.
(scanner whirring)
So this is it.
How's it feel?
Like I just got out of prison.
- Bye.
- See ya.
(line ringing)
(line clicks)
Hey, Mom.
I just wanted
to tell you something
before you heard it
from somebody else.
Are you pregnant?
No. (laughs)
No. Um...
I resigned from
Planned Parenthood today.
She quit.
Done the right thing, Abby.
I've been praying for years
that you'd leave there.
I have so much to tell you.
(sighs)
Abby?
Abby, it's the middle
of the night.
What are you doing up?
(Doug sighs)
Hey.
Baby, what's the matter?
(sobs softly)
(sniffles)
I have been complicit...
...in over 22,000 abortions.
(sobs)
That... that is
the weight of my guilt.
(crying): How do I even begin
to comprehend that?
You can't, baby.
Nobody can, okay?
All you can do is
say you're sorry
and beg forgiveness.
(crying):
I am sorry.
I am so sorry.
Those women...
they came to me
looking for help...
and I lied to them.
(crying):
I lied to them.
I betrayed them.
I told them that the best thing
for them to do
was to kill their babies.
(crying)
What have I done?
You did what you thought
was right, baby.
Then why do I feel so ashamed?
Abby, look at me.
(Abby sniffles)
I love you.
And so does God.
He'll forgive you if you ask.
(crying):
I-I can't even believe that.
How? How could He?
Because He's God.
(crying, sniffling)
ABBY: I spent the next two days
ugly crying.
- (knocking)
- Day three, I woke up
and headed straight for
Shawn and Marilisa's office.
Blame it on my Texas roots,
but I couldn't show up
empty-handed.
SHAWN: Abby. (chuckles)
What are you doing here?
I'm here to help, any way
I can, and I brought donuts.
(chuckles)
SHAWN:
Here we are, drinking coffee
with Abby Johnson.
Okay, well, if you guys think
it is weird for you,
just imagine how I feel.
Abby, I am so glad you're here.
It should have been this way
all along.
SHAWN:
You know, I got to admit,
sometimes, in the midst of
all the hours on the fence,
I was beginning to wonder
if we were doing any good.
Most of the time,
we just prayed and prayed,
and it didn't seem to matter.
- Trust me, it mattered.
- Why do you say that?
Shawn, I was
the clinic director,
and any time that you were out
there, my no-show rate climbed,
which is why I was
so annoyed with you.
(Shawn and Marilisa laugh)
Seriously, it wasn't
just us, though.
Planned Parenthood's
own statistics show that,
if someone's praying
outside the clinic,
it can go as high as 75%.
- Are you serious?
- I'm serious.
It's like this
dirty little secret
they don't want anyone to know.
When women see you praying,
they just suddenly decide
not to show up.
They circle the parking lot
and never come in.
Meaning most of the lives
that you save,
you never even know about.
Which is why I need
to go to the fence.
Abby, I really don't think
this is something
you should be doing yet.
But it's something
I need to do.
Hi. My name is Abby Johnson.
I used to be the director
of this clinic.
I quit because my conscience
wouldn't let me stay.
I just want to talk to you for
a minute, please just a minute.
Please?
I guess.
(exhales sharply)
It's always possible you're
just here for a pregnancy test,
but I'm guessing you've already
seen the results of yours.
Two of them.
And you feel like your whole
world is caving in around you,
and you've never been
so scared and alone.
- (quietly): Yeah.
- Yeah.
Let me tell you
what's gonna happen
if you go in that door.
The first thing they're gonna
do is give you an ultrasound,
but they're not gonna
let you see it.
Why not?
Because they don't want you
to see your baby.
Then why do they do
the ultrasound?
Because the ultrasound
determines
the size of the fetus.
And the size of the fetus,
the skull in particular,
is what determines the price
they're going to charge you.
(crying softly)
Why are you telling me this?
Because I understand
better than anyone
that, inside that building,
they don't offer solutions.
They only offer abortions.
And if you go
through that door,
you will not come out the
same person, because you can't.
And everybody wants to pretend
like you can, but you can't.
Because the truth is you can
let them get rid of your baby,
but they can't get rid of
the memory of your baby.
And neither can you,
no matter how hard you try.
(crying softly)
I don't know what to do.
What's your name?
Hannah.
Hannah, it's gonna be okay,
I promise, I promise.
And I'll be there
every step of the way.
I'll do anything I can
to help you.
If you get in that car...
Okay. (sniffles)
(engine starts)
CHERYL:
Bravo. Let me guess.
Former clinic director
describes the mechanics
of fetal dismemberment...
You know what, Cheryl, that...
...complete with
all the tools involved.
That's not what it was like.
You know what?
It doesn't really matter.
You've become a traitor, Abby.
Some of us are
still loyal to the cause.
Some of us still believe
in protecting
a woman's right to choose.
And those of us who do,
we are a part of
a billion-dollar corporation
with lawyers and lobbyists
and media experts on staff.
Have you ever seen
the names of our donors?
Soros, Gates, Buffett.
That's who we have.
Who have you got, Abby?
Cheryl, what you are doing
is wrong.
Is it?
America wants abortion,
which is why we exist and why
we will continue to exist
long after you and
your newfound friends are gone.
Oh, yes, I know all about them.
Did you honestly think
that we wouldn't find out?
No one has ever turned on us
like this before, Abby.
Which is why national is going
to make an example of you.
So, congratulations.
You've managed to make an enemy
of one of the most powerful
organizations on the planet.
(crickets chirping)
- (Abby chuckles)
- DOUG: I love this patch.
ABBY:
Mm.
Turn this way, baby.
Do you remember
what I was telling you earlier
about what Cheryl said?
It'd be kind of hard to forget.
Yeah, well, now Megan isn't
returning my phone calls,
and her phone number
has been disconnected.
Uh-oh.
Can we go now, please?
Does Mommy look like
she's ready?
- No.
- No.
And you need to go get
your ladybug wand upstairs.
(Abby laughs)
(footsteps walking up stairs)
- You still up for this?
- Absolutely.
I am not letting Cheryl
or Planned Parenthood
ruin Halloween for our kid.
Or you.
- I'm serious, babe.
- (spooky sound effects playing)
Whoever created this holiday
deserves a medal.
We get to dress up, act stupid,
and people give us candy.
How cool is that?
(Southern accent):
You do realize
they give Grace
the candy, though?
- (laughs)
- Yes, but she knows
Daddy's involvement is crucial.
She's still new to this,
whereas I bring decades
of experience.
(imitates pirate):
Arr, milady.
(normal voice):
Okay.
- All right.
- Daddy, let's go!
Can you take this one
so I can call Shawn?
- Sure.
- Okay.
Hold up, hold up!
(pop music playing)
(line ringing)
- SHAWN: Abby? - Did you get my
messages about Cheryl's threat?
Yeah. We're being sued.
We're both gonna need lawyers.
Sued? Do you realize
how serious this is?
Yeah. And I just realized
you're 100 feet away from me.
Abby!
- Hon, why don't you go ahead
while I talk to Abby. - Okay.
(whispers):
Bye, pumpkin.
Are you sure about this?
Yes. We got served
right before I left work.
There's a lawsuit from
Planned Parenthood,
plus a restraining order
to keep us from saying
anything public.
Yours will probably arrive
on Monday.
When were you planning on
telling me about this?
Figured I'd let you enjoy
trick-or-treating
and then give you a call.
(scoffs)
What are we gonna do?
I've already talked with
Jeff Paradowski.
I believe his response was,
"I'm in, baby!"
Wait, wait, wait.
The one that's
on the billboards,
pointing his finger, saying...
"Get what you deserve!"
Yeah. He's an old friend.
Okay, um, you realize
that attorneys cost money
- and I just left my job? - Jeff
isn't in this for the money.
He's in this
to help fight abortion.
He's willing to
cut into his Saturday
and meet with us
tomorrow morning.
Abby, meet Jeff.
Jeff, meet Abby.
So, they're claiming
that Planned Parenthood
and its patients face
imminent, irreparable harm
from confidential information
you've improperly disclosed
or are about to disclose.
That's nonsense.
Well, they managed
to convince a judge otherwise.
Our preliminary hearing
is in ten days.
The attorneys for the plaintiff
are a big firm out of Houston.
But I'm betting we'll see
some faces from D.C. As well.
You're a big fish, and
the sharks are smelling blood.
Oh, also, you should
prepare yourself
that, uh, Megan and Taylor
will be testifying
to a completely different
set of facts than the ones
you've described to me.
- They were my friends.
- Emphasis on "were."
Okay, Abby, I'm going to
ask you a series of questions.
Um, I want you to take
all the time you need
to answer honestly and
think about them all you want.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Have you ever revealed
the identities of the doctors
performing abortions
at the facility
either to Shawn or anyone else?
- No.
- No.
You ever removed confidential
patient information
from the building, either
physically or in digital form?
No.
Have you ever taken or removed
anything from the building?
Just an old vacuum cleaner.
Uh, but the one
at the clinic broke,
and we had a tight budget
for equipment,
so I brought mine from home.
But when I quit,
I wasn't gonna leave it there.
That and a plant,
but my mom gave me the plant.
Okay. (laughs)
Uh, did you threaten
Megan or Taylor
if they didn't look to resign
from Planned Parenthood?
No. How could I? I wasn't even
their boss anymore.
Which brings me to my last
and most important question
for you.
What aren't you telling me?
- Nothing.
- You sure?
Because if there's something
that you're hiding,
I can guarantee
it will come out in court.
So, if there's anything
that I need to know,
now is the time to tell me
while we still have the time
to figure out
how to deal with it.
(sighs) A while back,
curiosity got the best of me,
and I pulled
my own patient file.
I couldn't resist.
How come?
I needed to see my baby.
Is that a problem?
Sure.
For Planned Parenthood if they
try to make an issue out of it.
I mean, trying to paint her
like a criminal
for wanting to see
her own file?
We can only hope
they're stupid enough
to try something like that.
So, what's our defense?
- She's innocent.
- (Abby chuckles)
- That's it? That's our defense?
- Yep.
We are so screwed.
Abby, don't complicate
the issue.
Look, the... their-their
complaint's emphasis
on potential future harm
tells me they're light
on actual evidence.
Let me make it easy for you.
They've got no case.
You don't know these people
like I know them.
Planned Parenthood
will go to any lengths
to destroy someone
that they see as a threat.
Abby, there are two words
in the English language
that are very powerful if you
put them together in court.
Do you know what they are?
"Prove it."
(chuckles)
Trust me. I got this.
ABBY: So there I was,
scared out of my mind.
After all, it's not every day
you take on a corporation
with global outreach
to 189 countries
on every continent
except Antarctica.
Jeff looked like he didn't have
a care in the world.
Shawn was nervous, Doug was
my rock, and my mom was...
Shawn!
...well, my mom.
Thank you for getting
my daughter out of there.
Wow. And here I was afraid
that Abby was going home
every Christmas
for the past eight years
bashing this evil Shawn person.
Oh, she did, but I read
between the lines,
which is why I knew
I'd love you.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Okay, hugging is done.
- Let's go kick some ass.
- (Kathleen chuckles)
REPORTER: What are you
hoping for in today's outcome?
I would like to see
justice served, obviously,
and for people to...
ABBY:
I just want to go over there
and tell those people
what is really going on.
JEFF:
Well, you're not going to.
You're under
a restraining order.
Mm-hmm. So let me
get this straight.
First they sue us even though
we did nothing wrong.
Next they gag us
with a court order.
Then they hold
a press conference
so they can say
whatever they want,
and we're just supposed
to stand here and be quiet.
That is not fair.
"Fare" is something
you give a cab driver.
The law is something
entirely different.
CHERYL: Sincerely regret
being forced
to take this matter
to the courts.
It's the last thing
we wanted to do,
but, honestly, our priority...
Is it wrong that I just
want to go over there
- and punch her in the face?
- Yes, Abby, it's wrong.
That's my job.
- REPORTER: Okay...
- (reporters chattering)
(elevator bell dings)
ABBY:
What is that?
JEFF: Their attempt
to intimidate us.
- It's working.
- Don't let it.
They're just muddying the water
to make it seem deep.
SHAWN: It looks like
they brought the whole firm.
So did we.
Okay, here we go.
Something about your lawyer
seemed familiar.
And then I realized
he's the guy
from the billboards, right?
Well, good for you.
Looks like you really are gonna
"get what you deserve."
(snickers)
(sighs)
ABBY:
In real life,
sometimes things don't work out
the way we expect.
BAILIFF:
...in and for Brazos County
is now in session.
ABBY:
If this were just a movie
instead of the story
of my life,
then this would be the part
where there'd be
an epic battle
fought on my behalf,
full of twists and turns
and a come-from-behind victory
at the last moment.
(crying)
But that's not what happened.
ABBY:
Mom.
And thank goodness for that.
'Cause I don't think
I could have handled it.
You guys do know we won, right?
(laughter)
ABBY: In the end,
it only took Jeff 58 minutes
to convince the judge
that I was innocent.
All of Planned Parenthood's
lies and accusations
counted for nothing.
So tell me the truth.
Were you ever worried?
What? Me worry?
I was sweating like the Devil
on Easter morning.
(laughter)
- This isn't over.
- Uh, sure it is.
Did you...
Were you not paying attention?
Oh, and by the way,
Abby told me what you said.
And, yes, I am the guy
from the billboards.
So, Abby did get what
she deserved, and so did you.
And I'm the one who gave it
to you. (clicks tongue)
- (laughter)
- JEFF: Okay.
ABBY:
And that would've been
the end of my story,
except for...
(phone ringing)
Hello?
You're never gonna believe
what I just found out.
The clinic is closing.
- What are you talking about?
- The clinic.
Planned Parenthood is
closing it down for good.
- Shawn, are you sure?
- Yeah.
I just got a memo
across my desk.
ABBY:
Shawn was right.
Planned Parenthood of
Bryan, Texas, shut its doors
for the final time
on August 1, 2013.
GRACE (chuckles):
Bread.
ABBY:
To celebrate, we all decided
to gather at the fence
one last time.
CROWD (chanting):
Tear it down!
- Ready?
- Are you kidding?
- I've been waiting for this
my whole life. - (chuckles)
CROWD (chanting):
Tear it down! Tear it down!
- (engine rumbling)
- Tear it down!
Tear it down! Tear it down!
(cheering)
In my hand, I hold two roses,
one for each of
my own unborn children
who I decided to sacrifice
on the altar of convenience.
And I know I'm not the only one
who's made that mistake.
(sniffles) Thousands of babies
were lost to abortion
inside these walls,
including one of mine.
And today we remember them.
We honor them.
We vow never to forget them.
So I'd like to invite you
to join me
in placing a rose of your own
at the fence in memory of them,
as proof that they are
not forgotten.
(sniffles)
You know, I wrote a letter
to you both.
(paper ruffles)
What it's about...
the words don't matter.
Because all I want you to know
is that I love...
I love you so much,
and I'm sorry.
I'm sorry that I didn't
fight for you,
that I didn't love you
enough then
to keep this from happening.
And I think about you
every day.
But I know that someday
I'll meet you both in Heaven,
because God is merciful.
And He has heard my cries,
and He has forgiven me.
I'm looking
at a masterpiece
I'm staring
at a work of art
I'm listening to a symphony
In every beat
of your tiny heart
You used to be
a choice to make
But now I think
you've chosen me
'Cause I see ten fingers,
ten toes, two eyes
And I know
this is meant to be
Oh, I don't believe
in accidents
Miracles, they don't
just happen by chance
As long as my God holds
the world in His hands
I know that there's
no such thing as unplanned
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh...
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh...
Broken turns to beautiful
I see it
right before my eyes
And every single breath
you breathe
Is destiny
love has brought to life
I thought it was
my story's end
But now the future's
all I see
Instead of asking
who you might have been
I'm wondering
who you're gonna be
Who you're gonna be
'Cause I don't believe
in accidents
Miracles, they don't
just happen by chance
As long as my God holds
the world in His hands
I know that there's
no such thing as unplanned
Yeah
Ooh-ooh-ooh, oh
Every life deserves a voice
Every child
deserves a chance
You are more than
just a choice
There's no such thing
as unplanned
Every life deserves a voice
Every child
deserves a chance
You are more than
just a choice
Oh, there's no such thing
as unplanned
Every life deserves a voice
Every child
deserves a chance
You are more than
just a choice
'Cause there's no such thing
as unplanned
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh...
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh...
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh.
(music ends)
I know it's all you've got
to just be strong
And it's a fight
just to keep it together
Together
I know you think
that you are too far gone
But hope is never lost
Hope is never lost
Hold on, don't let go
Hey, hey, hey
Hold on, don't let go
Just take one step closer
Put one foot
in front of the other
You'll get through this
Just follow the light
in the darkness
You're gonna be okay
I know your heart is heavy
from those nights
But just remember
that you are a fighter
A fighter.

HEARTTRHOURGH
1
(ALARM BEEPING)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(SIGHS)
(ALARM CONTINUES BEEPING)
(SONG CONTINUES)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(DOG WHINING)
Come on. Let's go.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SIZZLING)
(MUSIC PLAYING ON HEADPHONES)
JOYCE: I made eggs.
So I'm gonna pick you up
after practice at five.
JOHN: Six.
I wanna shoot around.
Is that Chad kid
still giving you trouble?
Nope.
Okay. (SIGHS)
JOHN: (SMACKS LIPS)
Hey, Sammy. Sammy, come on.
JOYCE: So I was thinking,
- How about I call your coach?
- No! Hell no!
Language.
Good morning.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Good morning.
JOHN: Hey, Dad.
(SLURPING)
So, the Warriors are playing
the Thunder tomorrow
in Oklahoma City.
What do you think
is gonna happen?
Well, Steph Curry just scored
thirty-two points last night.
So what I think is that,
Chef Curry is gonna
whomp on 'em.
I don't know.
Durant's pretty good.
He is the reigning MVP.
John.
Is somebody gonna bless
our food?
Okay. Well, I guess I will.
(JOYCE CLEARS THROAT)
Lord, though he exasperates me
to no end,
I am grateful for my son.
For I know that you've
created him for a purpose,
thus far only known to you.
(BRIAN CHUCKLES)
Bless this food
to our bodies. Amen.
- BRIAN: Amen.
- JOHN: Amen.
(MUSIC PLAYING ON EARPHONES)
I'm thinking about
raising your allowance
to 100 bucks a week.
(MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING
ON HEADPHONES)
(HUMMING)
(CONTINUES HUMMING)
What are you doing?
Your mom is just trying to get
her son's attention.
(JOHN SIGHS)
EMMA: Hey, John.
- JOHN: Wassup, guys?
- Hug.
Please go.
(SIGHS)
(GASPS) Oh.
CHAYLA: Hey, Mrs. J.
JOYCE: Hey, Chayla. Hey, Emma.
How are you girls?
Living the dream, Mrs. J.
Oh, I tried to friend you
on the Instagram,
but I must be doing
something wrong.
Oh, my God!
- Please, just go, Ma.
- (CHAYLA LAUGHS)
(LAUGHS) I'm kidding!
JOYCE: Have a good day!
EMMA: Bye!
(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)
- JOHN: Hey, Abby.
- Hey.
Good morning, students.
Today is Thursday, January 15th.
Yearbook committee
meets after school today.
And there's a basketball game
at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.
GIRL: Go Eagles!
JOHN: Yeah! Go Eagles!
VP NANCY: Lastly,
a reminder that Monday
is a national holiday
in remembrance of
Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.
Emma and I got tickets
to see the musical Hairspray
at the Fox Saturday night.
Wow! Yeah, that sounds like fun.
Mmm, dudes in tights.
It's not a ballet.
Look, I'm pretty sure
they'll be wearing pants.
So what are you guys doing?
We're crashing at Rieger's
after the game.
- So jealous.
- DOREEN: Good morning.
Please stand
for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Place your right hand
over your heart.
Ready? Begin.
ALL: I pledge allegiance
to the Flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic
for which it stands
one Nation under God
indivisible
with liberty and justice
for all.
We might have
some girls over, too.
- Who?
- Can't say until it happens.
- But they're hot.
- Totally.
Hey, whoa. You're joking, right?
(CHUCKLES) No.
MRS. ABBOTT: Josh Rieger,
Josh Sanders, quiet please.
Okay, gang. Family oral history
reports continue.
Yesterday we heard
from Chad Green,
whose family came over
on the Mayflower.
My husband's family did as well.
His great-great-grandfather
was a knight of some kind.
And then we heard from Chayla,
whose family lineage includes
the birth of the blues
in Memphis, Tennessee.
- (STUDENTS EXCLAIMING)
- (CHUCKLES)
John, would you do the honors
and kick us off, please?
Didn't do it.
Why not?
I didn't have time.
(SCOFFS)
If you don't do the assignment,
you'll get a failing grade.
"Yesterday is not ours
to recover,
"but tomorrow is ours
to win or lose."
Doreen, you're up.
(STUDENTS EXCLAIM)
MRS. ABBOTT: Oh, wow!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
MELISSA: "My child,
you believe me for so little.
"Don't be so safe
in the things you pray."
- Oh. I'm so sorry.
- Hey, lady.
- WOMAN 1: Hey, morning.
- WOMAN 2: Morning, Joyce.
(SIGHS) The morning
got away from me.
Does anyone need
any more coffee?
- No, thank you.
- No, thanks.
- Hey.
- WOMAN: What passage?
Is everything all right?
Not exactly.
John's birthday
is coming up,
Mmm-hmm.
Oh, I remember those always
been hard for him.
Yeah. It's like he's building
this wall between us.
And I hate myself for it.
I know he's hurting
and I just wanna fix it.
They're always so much harder
to deal with
once they start shaving.
(CHUCKLES)
MELISSA: And then
they leave for college.
Come on.
(SIGHS)
JOYCE: Sorry, ladies.
I did read the book twice.
Uh, so where were we?
Um, we were just talking about
how Beth Moore is asking us
to pray boldly.
So, what does it mean
to you all, "to pray boldly"?
I don't know. It just seems,
- Oh! Hey, ladies.
- MELISSA: Pastor.
Uh, we need to use this room
for a staff meeting.
You guys wrapping things up?
Uh, no.
Not for another 22 minutes.
And I have a women's ministry
meeting here, back-to-back.
Oh, um,
I'm sorry, but I don't think
that's gonna work.
JOYCE: I'm sorry?
I reserved both times
on the sign-up sheet.
Okay. All I have on
my calendar is staff meeting.
Where's this elusive
sign-up sheet?
Taped to the door
that you walked in.
Been going on ten years now.
(CHUCKLES) Oh.
Well, it's official.
We're going digital, ladies.
See Maddy for details.
Listen, I don't know
what you do in California,
but I have been leading
this women's ministry meeting
for over five years.
We don't cancel meetings...
JASON: I don't know
who's counting, Joyce,
but I've been in ministry
for over ten years,
including California.
Hey, maybe you guys could use
that Starbucks
around the corner?
That'd be fun, right?
Oh, are you paying?
(CHUCKLES)
Well, I hadn't thought
about it, but, uh,
Great.
Okay, ladies,
let's get out of here
because our new pastor,
has more important business
to tend to.
No, that's not true.
I'm sorry, ladies. I promise,
this will not happen next week.
Thank you, Pastor.
And please, I've been asking
for six months.
Call me Jason.
We know, Pastor.
Why are you so hard on him?
That haircut, for one.
(CHUCKLES)
JOHN: Right here, right here.
COACH PAUL: Good rebound.
Let's run, Eagle.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Set up that offense.
Spread out the floor.
Spread it out.
Come on, John. Set it up.
RIEGER: I'm open.
COACH PAUL: Nice, nice.
JOHN: Yes! Good job, guys.
COACH PAUL: Come on now,
spread it out. Defense.
Hands up.
JOHN: Defense, defense.
COACH PAUL:
Hands up! Hands up.
There you go.
- Nice.
- BOY: Nice shot!
COACH PAUL: Spread that floor.
There you go.
Spread it out. Move it out.
- BOY: Go, go, go.
- There they go.
BOY: Watch him.
COACH PAUL: Yes!
That's what I'm talking about.
(BOYS CHATTERING)
COACH PAUL: Hands up on D now.
Very nice, John! Nice steal.
There you go.
Good job, John.
(GRUNTS)
Can't catch me,
so you gotta foul me?
Whatever, ese.
What'd you just call me?
COACH PAUL: (BLOWS WHISTLE)
Knock it off!
Next guy who swings is benched.
(BLOWS WHISTLE)
Practice is over. Wash up.
John, Chad, bring it here.
What's up with you guys?
John beat you out for starting guard, Chad.
Deal with it.
- CHAD: Temporary.
- (JOHN SCOFFS)
Whatever. You wanna start,
better change schools.
Enough!
News flash. (SNAPS FINGERS)
You're not in the NBA yet.
And acting like that,
you aren't ever gonna get there.
Understood?
(SIGHS)
All right, wash up.
John, hold up. I wanna
talk to you for a minute.
What's this I hear about
you getting a failing grade
in your family history
assignment?
Why does it matter?
Well, unless
you figure it out,
I'm gonna have to bench you
for Sunday's game.
- What? That's bull...
- Hey.
Whatever.
You're a good player, John.
But right now you're blowing it.
What's going on with you lately?
I'm cool.
I'll see ya, Coach.
(SLAMS DOOR OPEN)
JOYCE: Hey! How was practice?
Fine.
(SIGHS)
How was school?
Oh, let me guess. Fine.
What are you working on?
Oral report.
Maybe I could help.
(JOYCE SIGHS)
What are you saving 'em for?
Your Jordans?
When it's the right time.
Okay. (SIGHS)
(SNIFFLING)
(SNIFFLES)
Baby, come back downstairs.
All your friends are waiting
to sing "Happy Birthday" to you.
(JOYCE SIGHS)
(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
What's wrong?
Everybody's waiting.
Why didn't she wanna
have a party for me?
Why didn't she want me?
For what it's worth,
you have a purpose
and you are loved.
(DOOR OPENING)
Mr. Smith.
Nice of you to join us
this morning.
I'm ready to do my oral report.
(SIGHS)
Okay, so, I'm John Smith.
Uh,
Most of you know I'm adopted.
I come from a small town
in Guatemala called Sansare.
Um...
I don't know
who my biological mother is,
but just that
she didn't want me.
Uh,
Joyce and Brian Smith adopted me
when I was nine months old.
They went down there
on a missions trip
and they ended up
coming home with me.
Probably because I'm so cute.
But yeah,
BRIAN: Okay, okay.
JOYCE: Brian,
that space right there.
BRIAN: Okay, I'm on it.
I'm on it.
- (LIVELY CHATTER)
- (MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
BRIAN: Okay.
MAN: Hey, guys.
JOYCE: And, John,
you're sitting with us in church today.
MAN: (SINGING)
Who shakes the whole earth
With holy thunder
And leaves us breathless
in awe and wonder
The King of Glory,
the King above all kings
- This is amazing grace
- Whoo!
ROB: Yeah, yeah
MAN: This is unfailing love
ROB: Yeah, yeah
MAN: That You would
take my place
ROB: Oh, yeah
Take my place, take my place
MAN: That You would
bear my cross
ROB: Bear my cross
Bear my cross
- MAN: You lay down Your life
- ROB: Yeah
You lay it down
That I would be set free
Set free, set free, set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for
All that You've done for me
This grace so amazing, whoo
That's why I praise Him
They don't know
where we done came from
Oh, my momma
They can't harm us
Got my arms up
While we covered
in their armor
And we done made it
Y'all didn't hear me,
but we made it
I ain't earn it
but I'll take it
Got that light
inside side of me
That you don't need
no one to see
You can feel it,
you can hear it when I say Hey, hey!
- This is amazing grace
- (CROWD CHEERING)
- CROWD: Whoa!
- ROB: Yeah, yeah
This is unfailing love
Yeah, yeah
That You would take my place
ROB: Take my place
Take my place
MAN: That You would
bear my cross
ROB: Bear my cross
Bear my cross
- MAN: You lay down Your life
- ROB: Yeah
You lay it down
That I would be set free
Set free, set free, set free
MAN: Oh, Jesus, I sing for
All that You've done for me
(ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
JASON: Amazing!
Thank you.
You were amazing.
Hey, let's give it up
for our guest.
- Rob, thank you so much.
- (CHEERING)
So dope, and thank you.
Show of hands. Who here,
including me and my wife,
by the way,
are addicted to The Bachelor?
(SCATTERED LAUGHTER)
Okay.
Liars.
Liars! I know there's way more
of you out there than that.
It's a sin to lie, people.
It's even a worse sin
to lie in church, so...
Okay.
Cathy?
I'mma pick on you for a second.
Cathy, I happen to know,
because I overheard it in
a supermarket checkout line,
that you watch
Bachelor in Paradise.
Now nobody watches just
Bachelor in Paradise.
I'm sorry, that's like saying
I go to Arby's...
you know, just for the salads.
(LAUGHTER)
Yes, I do watch it.
Okay, that's what I thought.
And I bet that means that your
husband, Bob, watches it too.
Bob, I get it. I get it.
At first, it was 'cause she
forced you to do it, right?
You got hooked.
You got a problem now, right?
You're like, "How is Andy ever
gonna find true love?" Right?
(LAUGHTER)
Remember this guy last season,
Juan Pablo?
This guy.
You know what really
ticked me off about this guy?
He kept asking these women
to make a commitment,
week after week.
But when it came time for him
to make a commitment,
he chickened out, right?
He kept saying,
"Will you accept my rose?
"Will you accept my rose?
Will you...?"
But when someone asked him
to get up to the plate...
he couldn't find the courage
to do it.
I'm pretty sure you guys all
know where I'm going with this,
but it's true.
Week after week
He's there for us.
And, yeah, God is asking
for a lifetime commitment too.
But here's the good news,
and I do mean the good news.
He didn't just give us
a rose, right?
He gave us
the most valuable thing
that He had to give.
His son.
And I think that means
that we probably
shouldn't be commitment-phobes
either, right?
(LAUGHTER)
All right,
let's open our Bibles.
The Gospel of Luke.
(CHATTERING)
JOYCE: You coming
to the game tonight?
MELISSA: No. I'm not gonna
be able to make it, Joyce.
PAULA: Hey, Joyce!
- Paula, how are you?
- Hi. So good to see you.
JOYCE: You too. Thank you.
- Hi.
- Hi, how are you?
Hi, Joyce.
Oh, what do you guys have on
for the rest of the day?
Uh, well, John's got
a basketball game.
Oh, yeah? I've seen John hoop
it up a little bit around here.
This guy's a beast!
What do you say, J-Money?
Coming to Youth Group this week?
Weak sauce! Come on!
All right, I'll come.
JASON: Boom! There we go.
This kid is so...
lit!
I've no idea
what you're going on about,
but we have got to go.
- Nice sermon today, Pastor.
- Thanks, Brian.
Hey, uh, call me Jason.
Jason.
COACH PAUL:
Take it, John, take it!
(ALL CHEERING)
Good job.
CHEERLEADERS:
Let's go, Eagles! Let's go!
They gotta hold 'em.
Come on, defense!
(ALL APPLAUDING AND CHEERING)
COACH PAUL: Let's go, defense!
You need to spread it out!
- Here we go, yeah, John!
- COACH PAUL: Good job.
COACH PAUL: Okay, now,
look at the clock.
John, set up Eagle!
Come on, John! Set it up!
- JOHN: Get back!
- MAN: Eagle!
COACH PAUL: John, he's open!
Pass it to him!
- Eagle!
- CROWD: Three!
COACH PAUL: John!
CROWD: Two!
One!
(BUZZING)
Yeah! Oh, yeah, John.
COACH PAUL: John Smith!
(ALL CHEERING)
That was a good game,
but next time I call a play
you better listen to me,
you hear me?
All right, go wash up.
Good game!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
JOYCE: You got 'em from here?
We do.
We're gonna grab pizza
on the way home.
Great. Thank you, Cindy.
- CINDY: Any time.
- Good game.
You too.
Text your mom tomorrow,
and tell her
when and where
to pick you up, okay?
Please, don't forget.
I won't.
It was a good game, son.
JOYCE: Yeah.
BRIAN: Have a great time.
And, uh, don't do
anything stupid.
Okay, Brian.
Love you, guys.
(BRIAN CHUCKLES)
I'm sorry,
you're okay with that?
It's just a phase.
He's just trying
to get a reaction.
By calling you Brian? Or not
hugging his mother goodbye?
A little bit of both.
He just needs some space,
and maybe we should
loosen up a bit.
Listen, you can't be his father
and his best friend, Brian.
Why not?
Because it doesn't work
that way.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- I'm coming! I'm coming!
- You want to see this drift?
- Ready?
- Yeah.
- (VOCALIZING TIRES SCREECHING)
- (LAUGHTER)
Abby just liked my post.
She's cool.
I mean, she's no Molly, but,
Molly? (SCOFFS)
She moved to Texas.
So? She texts me,
like, all the time.
JOSH: Almost there.
(LAUGHING)
- (SIGHS)
- Big dub!
- Come play, John.
- (LAUGHS) In a minute.
All right.
JOSH: Oh! You were an ugly baby.
That's not me, fool.
That's my dad.
I'm the other one.
My mom thinks it's funny
'cause we look exactly alike.
JOSH: You do,
and you're both ugly.
- CINDY: Hey, guys?
- RIEGER: Yeah, Mom?
Let's not stay up
all night, okay?
Night, Mrs. Rieger.
CINDY: Good night, boys.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
JOSH: Cool! Let's go!
(JOHN LAUGHS)
Whoo!
(JOHN LAUGHS)
(BOYS EXCLAIMING)
JOHN: Right here.
Right here. Right here.
JOSH: Go! Go! Go! Hold up!
- JOHN: Pass it.
- RIEGER: Yeah.
That's for little kids!
JOHN: Pass.
Hey, get on this thing.
Get on this thing.
- JOHN: Wait for me.
- JOSH: Push me.
- Go! Go! Go!
- Spin him! Spin him!
(LAUGHTER)
Keep going! Go faster!
Okay! Okay! Stop it!
I'm dizzy! I'm dizzy!
I'm dizzy!
JOHN: Hey, guys.
Let's check out the lake!
JOSH: Oh, my God!
Okay, let's go.
Check this out!
(THUD)
- Yeah, we're good.
- Plenty thick.
Let's go.
(JOHN CHUCKLES)
I'm still dizzy!
Come on! Don't be a wuss!
- RIEGER: Yeah, come on!
- JOHN: Let's play tag.
Tag him.
- Come on!
- RIEGER: Hurry up!
Tag! You're it!
JOHN: Let's go!
(BOYS WHOOPING)
Come on!
RIEGER: Go, go, go!
(CHATTERING)
(LAUGHING)
JOHN: The puck is loose!
RIEGER: Come here!
John's got it!
Goal!
Okay, say, "Eagles."
Three!
ALL: Two! One!
Eagles!
(BOYS CHATTERING)
JOSH: Tag him! Tag him!
- JOHN: I'm on it.
- RIEGER: No!
JOHN: Oh, he's slipping!
Get him!
- RIEGER: No!
- JOSH: Yeah!
- RIEGER: Yo! No way! No way!
- JOHN: Stay down. Yeah!
RIEGER: Whoa! It's slippery,
guys. Watch out.
We got you.
MANAGER: Hey, boys!
Get off the ice!
Not safe!
We're training
for the Olympics, sir.
Please don't be a dream killer.
Maybe he's right.
Have you heard a single crack?
Guys? Now,
or I'm calling the cops.
RIEGER: Yes, sir.
We just need
to catch our friend first.
JOSH: What? No, hey!
- JOHN: Get him!
- RIEGER: Get back here.
- JOSH: Not it. Stop!
- RIEGER: Oh, my God!
JOHN: Pin him down.
Pin him down.
(TYPING)
- (CELL PHONE CHIMES)
- JOSH: Yo, easy! Come on!
Hey! Hey!
You got me, okay? (LAUGHS)
- You're not going anywhere.
- JOSH: Yo, stop!
(CRACKING)
(BUBBLING)
(CRACKING)
(MUFFLED SCREAMING)
(GURGLING)
(MUFFLED SHOUTING)
(GASPING, COUGHING)
(GASPING, COUGHING)
(COUGHING AND SPLASHING)
(COUGHING AND GASPING)
Josh, hold on!
I can't! I can't hold on.
My hands are too cold.
- I'm slipping. I'm slipping.
- Hold on, Rieger, hold on!
- I can't get up!
- JOHN: Just breathe!
Here. I'll push you out!
- (COUGHING)
- Here. I got you. Hold on!
(MUFFLED SHOUTING)
JOSH (MUFFLED): John!
Hey, John!
(MUFFLED) John!
Grab my hand, John!
- John!
- RIEGER: John!
- JOSH: Swim, come on!
- RIEGER: John! John!
He went under.
I can't see his face!
- Help!
- Where'd he go?
(MUFFLED SHOUTING)
JOSH (MUFFLED): Swim!
You can do it.
(MUFFLED SHOUTING)
JOSH (MUFFLED): John!
(MURMURING)
(MUFFLED SCREAMING)
JOSH (MUFFLED):
Please, someone help!
John!
(HEARTBEAT POUNDING)
(HEARTBEAT SLOWING DOWN)
(MUFFLED SCREAMING)
RIEGER (MUFFLED):
Please, someone!
(MUFFLED CHATTER)
(PHONE DIALING)
RIEGER: Help!
OPERATOR: 9-1-1,
what's your emergency?
Three boys,
they fell through the ice.
You gotta send help right now!
DISPATCHER (ON PA):
All available trucks,
we have a drowning event
at Lake Saint Louis.
Call out locations please. Over.
- TOMMY: Move!
- JOE: Let's go!
(ALARM RINGING)
(ALARM CONTINUES RINGING)
Truck 11, we're at the station
seven minutes out.
We're inbound with
water rescue gear. Over.
- (SIREN BLARING)
- (HORN HONKING)
(SIREN CHIRPS)
(BRAKES SQUEAL)
COP 1: Where are they?
Just down there. Right over there!
Thirty yards out.
COP 2: All right.
- (SIREN BLARING)
- (HORN HONKING)
DISPATCHER: East entrance.
Thirty yards off shore.
Local police have arrived
on scene.
One out, one in the water,
one under the ice.
How long?
Approximately five
to seven minutes,
according to witnesses.
Copy. Tell Chief
we're two minutes out.
(ICE CRACKING)
- Help us!
- Whoa!
- She's breaking under me.
- Stay back! I'll go!
(SHUDDERS)
Stay there!
We're coming to get you!
- (SIREN BLARING)
- (HORN HONKING)
JOSH: Please help us. Hurry!
(PRAYING INDISTINCTLY)
RIEGER: Hurry! Please!
Please, help us.
RIEGER: I can't hold on
much longer.
JOSH: He's under the water.
Let me get your friend.
I'll get you next.
Give me your hand!
Give me your hand!
Come on, I got ya.
(SHIVERING) Thank you.
COP 2: Okay. Okay.
Come on!
(SIREN BLARING)
Let's get the pike pole,
so we can drag the bottom.
- EMT 1: We need more!
- EMT 2: How many do we need?
I know this area of the lake.
Ten, maybe 12 feet deep.
- EMT 1: Grab three!
- EMT 2: Got it.
- Still got one under, Chief?
- Yeah.
But dive and retrieval
with tanks are inbound.
COP: The crack's widening.
We've gotta get the other kid
away from the edge.
- How's yours?
- COP: Hypothermic, but still breathing.
COP 2: The ice is giving way.
Be careful!
How long's mine been under?
COP: At least ten minutes
by our count!
JOSH: Please save him.
He's under the water.
He went under the water.
Please! His name is John.
- JOE: It's okay. It's okay.
- Please! Please save him.
I want you to crawl over
and grab this officer's hand.
We're going to do everything
we can to find John.
- Come on.
- JOSH: Please find him.
Easy getting in, Joe.
We don't wanna push him
farther under.
Let's work from back to front.
(GENTLE SPLASHING)
JOE: Is the area widening,
or is it just me?
TOMMY: It's getting bigger.
Bottom contact's about ten feet.
We gotta find this kid.
Ready.
What's the count?
Fifteen minutes.
It's gonna be a recovery,
not a rescue.
CHIEF MARLO: Hey, EMT?
Get your backpack.
I need another backpack.
- VOICE: Go back.
- CHIEF MARLO: Go back.
Sounds like Chief just said,
"Go back."
I missed it.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
What's he talking about?
(GENTLE SPLASHING)
JOE: I can't see past
three feet. It's way too murky.
I don't wanna cut him.
Tommy, if he went
under the ice back there,
he's a goner.
The outmost edge drops off
to 25 feet or more.
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
TOMMY: Come on, John. Be here.
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
(WHISPERING) I got something.
What is it?
Is it him?
Tommy?
(GRUNTING)
Don't lose him, Tommy.
- Pull him up. Pull him up.
- We got him.
We got him!
I'm losing my grip.
We got him!
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(PANTING)
Crew, throw the line!
PARAMEDIC: Rope is out.
Prepare for retrieval.
TOMMY: I got him.
- TOMMY: Pull!
- (BOTH GRUNTING)
JOE: Here we go!
TOMMY: Pull!
Come on! Keep going!
PARAMEDIC: He has no pulse.
TOMMY: Start compressions.
JOE: Go! Go! Go!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Two! Three! Four! Five!
Stop!
Pull! Pull!
One! Two! Three! Four! Five...
Nine! Ten! Eleven! Twelve...
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Ventilation tube.
PARAMEDIC: One! Two!
(SIRENS BLARING)
PARAMEDIC: Come on, John.
(RINGING)
Cindy!
I've been expecting your call.
CINDY: Joyce,
so there's been an accident.
Uh, the boys were out
playing on the ice
and they fell through.
So you need to get
to the hospital right now.
(SOBBING) They have John there.
All the boys are there.
(INAUDIBLE)
(SNIFFLING)
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
Hey!
I'm just picking up that
dimmer switch that you wanted.
Brian!
- John was in an accident.
- Joyce.
The boys fell through the ice!
- Joyce, Joyce. Slow down.
- I'm going to St. Joseph West Hospital.
Can you please meet me there?
(STAMMERS) Okay, okay.
I'll meet you there.
(PANTING)
(HORN BLARING)
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(HYPERVENTILATING)
Joyce, calm down.
Calm down.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON PA)
DR. KENT: What do we know?
Fourteen-year-old male,
unresponsive and pulseless.
He was playing on the ice
and fell through.
Five hundred cc bolus given.
He's very cold to touch.
Keith, take over
CPR compressions.
Let's bolus him,
normal saline.
Run the IV wide open.
We use a weight of 80 pounds.
Prepare to give epinephrine.
Epinephrine is in.
Hold compressions.
No pulse. Still cold.
Pupils are fixed and dilated.
No response.
Resume compressions.
Prepare to give epinephrine.
Epinephrine 0.38 milligrams.
The temp is 88 degrees.
How much long till
the next pulse check?
Thirty seconds.
(WHISPERING) Please, Lord.
Please, Lord Jesus.
Please.
Check pulse
at the next pulse check.
If there is no pulse,
we're gonna shock him.
Gotta try something.
Shock at a 150 joules.
- Preparing to shock.
- NURSE: Two minutes.
(EKG FLATLINING)
No pulse.
Everyone, clear.
Shocking.
(BEEP)
No pulse.
DR. KENT: What's
the outside temperature?
Low 50s.
Lake water can't
be cold enough
to have done his heart any good,
or his brain for that matter.
NURSE: Temp is up
to 90 degrees.
- DR. KENT: Prepare to give epinephrine.
- Epinephrine is in.
NURSE: Epinephrine,
0.38 milligrams.
Think, Kent. Think.
How much epi have we given?
Eight doses, Doctor.
Prepare to shock.
(BEEPING)
(HIGH-PITCHED WHIRRING)
NURSE: Two minutes.
NURSE: No pulse.
(SIGHS) All right.
Everybody, clear.
Shocking.
(BEEP)
No pulse.
Temp is up to 95 degrees.
He's warm.
Total time
is 45 minutes, Doctor.
(POUNDING)
Doctor Sutterer.
(CONTINUES POUNDING)
There's...
There's, uh...
There's nothing more we can do.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER PA)
(PANTING)
(PANTING)
We'll wait on his mother.
Keith, keep going.
I'm not going anywhere, boss.
JOYCE: Please, Lord.
Please, Lord Jesus.
(HYPERVENTILATING)
(WHIMPERING)
(PANTING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER PA)
I'm here for John Smith.
Okay.
You can have a seat
right over there.
We're just waiting
for his parents to arrive.
I am his mother.
I'm sorry.
Just a moment.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER PA,
PHONES RINGING)
She's here.
Should I bring her down?
I'll go.
(KEITH PANTING)
(PANTING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- Joyce, I'm here.
- They won't let me see him!
My John is in there and they
will not let me see him!
Isn't that illegal?
CINDY: We just need
to be patient.
- DR. KENT: Joyce Smith?
- Yes? I'm Joyce.
Hi. I'm Doctor Kent Sutterer.
We're doing everything we can
for your son,
but John isn't responding.
(GASPING)
What does that mean?
Let me take you to him.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
DR. KENT: Okay, team.
(KEITH PANTING)
DR. KENT: Keith.
Joyce, we'll be right outside.
Please, uh, take as long
as you need to say goodbye.
What?
(BABY COOING)
(SNIFFLING)
(SOFTLY) I don't understand.
I don't understand.
(SNIFFLES) Um...
(WHIMPERING)
I don't understand.
(SNIFFLING)
I don't understand. I don't,
No.
No, no, no.
(SNIFFLES) No!
No!
(JOYCE SOBBING)
(SIGHS)
No, no, no. God.
(SNIFFLES)
Please, Jesus, please.
Please, Jesus.
My John. My John...
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
(SNIFFLING)
Holy Spirit, I need you now.
I need you now.
Please, please,
don't take my son.
Please! Please!
Please bring life
back into John.
Please!
Please, God!
Please, please, please.
Come, breathe life into John.
Please, God...
Please, God.
(SNIFFLES) Please, God.
(SCREAMING) Send your Holy
Spirit to save my son!
(SOBBING)
(BEEPING)
- (GASPS) We've got a pulse!
- DR. KENT: What?
What?
We've got a pulse!
We've got a pulse! Trauma two.
NURSE: Page Respiratory and let
them know we need a ventilator.
- You got a pulse?
- NURSE 2: Yes.
Prepare intubation.
NURSE 3: I'll get the NG
and be ready
to insert it post-intubation.
(BEEPING CONTINUES)
BRIAN: Joyce?
Where's John?
Joyce.
(SIGHING)
Oh, Brian.
- How's John?
- Well...
John's got a pulse,
but it's weak.
Now, we're doing everything
we can to stabilize him,
and we're airlifting him
to Cardinal Glennon
downtown right now.
They've got the foremost expert
in drowning, Doctor Garrett.
Now, in my opinion,
he's John's only chance.
PILOT: ATC, this is Cardinal
Glennon 3-3-4 airlift wing.
BRIAN: I'll follow you there,
honey!
AIR DISPATCHER: Go for CGCH.
PILOT: We're requesting
a flight program now.
AIR DISPATCHER: I have you
coming in at pad two
with escort and trauma support
staff to assist.
(PANTING)
Ma'am, are you able to fly?
Yeah, I'm fine. I'm fine.
You're hyperventilating.
I'm scared to death of heights.
I think it might be better
if you traveled by car.
No, I'm not gonna leave my son!
Okay!
(ROTORS WHIRRING)
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
Hey, babe!
You'll be proud of me.
I'm jogging off that...
John Smith fell through
a frozen lake!
Wait, what?
They're airlifting him
to Cardinal Glennon.
JASON: Okay. Um...
I'm on my way.
(STRETCHER RATTLING)
- You're John's mother, right?
- Yes.
I need you
to come with me, ma'am.
Doctor Garrett will be
the physician attending to John.
- Okay.
- Okay.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
We'll come find you as soon
as we get him situated.
- JOYCE: Okay.
- You can have a seat right over there.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
JASON: Smith family.
He was helicoptered in from St. Joseph.
(PHONES RINGING)
JASON: Uh, she's here now, so...
WOMAN: We'll let you know
as soon as we hear something.
JASON: Thank you.
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
(SIGHS) It's really not
a good time right now.
Yeah, I know, Joyce.
That's why I'm here.
Well, thanks for coming.
Well, I'm not leaving.
Not now, anyway.
Excuse me?
Look, Joyce.
I know you might not be
the biggest fan
of how I preach,
or my haircut.
But I'm John's pastor.
And I'm your pastor.
I think that means
that right now,
we gotta set aside
our differences.
We gotta focus on John. Right?
JOYCE: Brian!
(SIGHS)
Thank you for coming.
NURSE: Yes, Doctor.
We've increased the drip rate.
I'm Doctor Garrett.
I'm sorry to be meeting
under these circumstances.
Your son is alive,
but his pulse
is very, very weak.
John's brain, like his organs,
was deprived of oxygen
for at least 20 minutes
before CPR was administered.
His injuries are catastrophic.
Beyond rudimentary
brain function...
I've never seen
a case like John's.
The fact that he's made it
this far...
I'm sorry.
"This far"?
Doctor?
If John ever
regained consciousness...
he'd be severely
neurologically impaired.
I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
But I don't believe
John will survive the night.
If you have family and friends
that you want to call
to come to see John,
now would be the time to do it.
(JOYCE WHIMPERING)
I've been told that you are
the best, Doctor Garrett.
I'm an expert
in my field, ma'am.
No, you're the best.
World renowned, in fact.
Or was I misinformed?
No, you were not.
I know that
you don't know my son,
but my John is a fighter
and he doesn't give up.
So, I need you to go
and be the best for John.
Nothing less.
And you just let God
do the rest.
Okay.
Okay.
JASON: It's been
real touch and go.
MELISSA:
Can't tell us anything more?
JASON: Here they are.
Hey, Melissa.
I'm so sorry, hon.
We headed over
the minute we heard the news.
What are they saying about John?
Well, I'm not gonna say
what the doctor
just tried to tell me,
because I refuse to accept it.
Because John is gonna
get through this.
MELISSA: Joyce,
I think you need
to be honest with yourself
about John's chances.
I am being honest
about his chances.
You know, I'm gonna get back.
They're only allowing two people
in the room at a time.
Brian?
Brian. Let's go.
Oh, you and Jason go.
I'll hang back.
- JASON: Are you sure?
- BRIAN: Yes, thank you.
- (TELEPHONES RINGING)
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER PA)
(CAR ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN)
(DR. KENT GRUNTS)
How are the boys?
(SIGHS)
Well, the two Joshes
were released a few hours ago.
They suffered some hypothermia,
but they're gonna be fine.
And John?
John is in
a very tough spot, honey.
But he's got a pulse,
which is a lot more than
anyone thought possible.
Mom said it was
some kinda miracle.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah...
I still don't know quite how
to put it into words.
His mom, she was so emotional,
she was praying and...
I still can't believe it.
He just...
He just came back to life.
So, John's gonna be okay?
Your dad's had
a long day, honey.
I know, but...
what do I tell the kids
in my class?
Well, honey, the truth is
nobody knows for sure.
Is there a chance John will
be back to school this week?
No, honey.
He's gonna be
at Cardinal Glennon until...
Honey, I don't think John
is gonna live much longer.
But you said
he came back to life.
I know.
For now, honey.
Yeah, for now.
But it's...
You know, it's complicated.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
(SIGHS)
(GRUNTS)
I got an update
from the hospital.
They, um...
They don't expect that boy
to make it through the night.
That was something today, bud.
What you did.
Well, if Chief hadn't asked us
to double back,
never would've found him
in the first place.
Say what?
If you hadn't yelled for us
to go back.
I thought you were nuts.
I didn't yell at you guys.
No, I was knee-deep in trying
to help those other boys
not lose their fingers and toes.
I never heard it.
You're the one
who found him, Tommy.
I helped you fish him out,
but...
the rest was all you.
I heard a voice say "Go back."
(CHUCKLES)
So who was it?
It wasn't me.
(LAUGHING)
You're messing with me, Chief.
(LAUGHS)
No.
I'm just sitting here
listening to you
trying to sound humble,
which really doesn't suit you.
(CHUCKLING)
(FOOTSTEPS GOING UPSTAIRS)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(DOOR OPENS)
(SNIFFLING)
DR. KENT: What I witnessed today
was something quite remarkable.
Some might even call it
a miracle,
which is why I'm writing.
So that no matter what happens,
we will remember
what we witnessed today.
(PHONE NOTIFICATION BEEPS)
(EKG BEEPING)
My John made it
through the night.
Yeah, of course he did.
He's a fighter.
Oh, I did some investigative
research with Brian.
Two creams, one sugar.
Thank you.
And thank you for staying
the night, Jason.
(CHUCKLES)
What?
That's the first time
you've ever called me Jason.
I'm sorry.
I've been awful to you.
No! Come on.
What are you talking about?
Who doesn't love
a typed, two-page,
single-spaced,
anonymous complaint letter
about the worship band?
The rapper was a bit much.
JASON: (LAUGHS) Okay.
I grew up on hymns.
Wait, how'd you know it was me?
I didn't.
- So...
- (BOTH CHUCKLE)
Listen, Joyce. The only reason I
switched up the music at church
is because I will do
absolutely everything
and anything,
to get young people psyched
to go to church.
Kids like John, it's just...
They need a little more cowbell,
you know?
Yeah, I see your point.
Oh, Paula must hate me.
No. No, she thinks
you're very...
spirited.
(EKG BEEPING)
Why don't you go home
and see your family?
Are you sure?
Yes, yes, of course.
DR. GARRETT:
Good morning, everyone.
JOYCE: Morning.
Uh, call me if you need me
for anything.
- I'll be back real soon.
- All right. Thanks.
Uh, I just got the update
from Wendy.
I don't know how John
made it through the night.
But I'm glad I was wrong.
I am worried
about cerebral edema.
Like the rest of John's body,
his brain's going
to wanna swell.
I'm gonna keep John
in an induced coma,
give his body a chance
to reverse course.
And we're gonna run a lot of
tests today. Okay?
It's imperative that we see
some kind of real proof
of brain activity in John.
JOYCE: Yeah.
At best, we have
a long road ahead.
And I'm not gonna lie to you.
We're in uncharted territory.
A fourteen-year-old
St. Charles boy,
who spent 15 minutes
trapped underwater,
after falling through the ice
on Lake Saint Louis,
is continuing to fight
for his life today.
On Monday,
after first responders,
recovered John Smith's
unresponsive and pulseless body,
John was transported
to St. Joseph West Hospital,
where the trauma team continued
life-saving CPR efforts,
for an additional 45 minutes.
It was then, that after an hour
with no signs of life,
John's mother, Joyce, prayed.
And John got a pulse.
John was then
quickly airlifted here
to Cardinal Glennon Hospital,
where we're told that
Doctor Garrett and his team
are working around the clock,
in an effort to save
John Smith's life.
This is Kay Quinn reporting live
from Cardinal Glennon Hospital.
BRIAN: Where's Jason?
MAN ON TV: And in other news,
yesterday, protesters...
I sent him home.
You missed Doctor Garrett
this morning.
No, he came and found me.
Brian, you didn't come back
last night.
(GASPS)
I can't see him like this.
I can't be in this room...
seeing him in this state.
(SNIFFLES) I'm sorry.
(SNIFFLES) Um...
If you need anything,
I'll just be
right down the hall.
I'm not leaving.
Okay.
Melissa thinks that everyone...
is just waiting for John to die.
That it's just...
It's just taking longer
than they expected.
- What do you think?
- I'm sorry but...
I think she's right.
I can see it in their face
and in everyone's face except...
Mine?
I believe God
can heal our son completely.
I know you do.
I know you do.
Why did you have to sleep
at the hospital?
Well...
Remember how I told you
another word for "pastor"
can be "shepherd"?
Well, shepherds look after
their sheep, right?
Is that why you always tell Mom
the people at church
are acting like sheep?
(CHUCKLING)
Um...
Let's try not to repeat that.
No, uh, John's like a sheep
that's been injured.
And this is a real thing,
this really happens sometimes.
Sometimes when a shepherd
finds a sheep
that's been injured
in his pasture,
he'll actually pick him up,
and he'll carry him
around his neck.
Why?
Well, so that the sheep
can hear his heartbeat, right?
And the two can form a bond.
So you're gonna carry John
around your neck?
Well, not literally.
- Um...
- (BOTH LAUGH)
I think I'm butchering
this metaphor.
You guys, your dad
is going to the hospital
to be by John's side.
That way he can hear
your dad's voice
and know
that your dad loves him.
'Cause that is what pastors do.
They love their people.
Why didn't you just say that?
Like, yeah.
(LAUGHS)
I have no idea.
I don't know. (CHUCKLES)
Why don't you go
brush your teeth?
I think your mom should be
the pastor, huh?
Yup.
- Hey, hey, hey! Dishes?
- (OLIVIA SIGHS)
Oh, I know. Ooh, so rough.
(LAUGHS) Thank you!
Hey. What?
(SIGHS)
If John dies...
I mean, it's gonna destroy her.
She believes without a doubt
that he'll survive.
CHIEF MARLO: Tommy.
How you doing?
What's on your mind, Chief?
The guys think that, uh...
maybe you're still
a little shook up
about what happened
to the boy.
I know what I heard.
I believe you.
A few feet over...
That lake is, like, 25 feet deep
or more, right?
Yeah.
To find him like we did,
that fast?
Million to one,
best case.
Anything like that
ever happen to you?
No.
(SIGHS) Well...
The way I figure it,
it's either one of two things.
Either I'm nuts...
Or God's talking to you.
Exactly.
(CHUCKLES)
In which case...
I got a big personal problem.
What's that?
I don't believe in God.
BRIAN: Joyce thinks that John
is gonna walk out
of this hospital.
What do you think?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
JASON: I have my doubts,
if that's what you're asking.
That being said...
I think it's possible.
BRIAN: I've been researching
drowning cases,
hundreds of them.
No one in John's situation
has ever survived.
I believe in God.
But maybe that only goes so far
with something like this.
I'm gonna be honest with you.
I have no idea what God
will do with John.
I mean, I have no idea.
All that I know is
that I'm supposed to walk
alongside you and Joyce
right now.
Best case scenario... (SNIFFLES)
is that my son leaves here
severely brain-damaged.
JASON: Could you handle that?
(SNIFFLES)
(UNZIPPING)
- (SIGHS)
- DR. LULU: Thank you, Doctor.
NEUROLOGIST: I just think
we should be focused
on the patients we can
actually help. Right?
DR. LULU: That isn't your call or mine.
It's Doctor Garrett's.
NEUROLOGIST: It is
neurologically impossible
for the patient to change course
at this point.
Be that as it may,
our job is to meet
the needs of the patient,
until Doctor Garrett
changes course
or the patient expires.
NEUROLOGIST:
But the cerebral blood flow scan
shows complete absence of...
(TOILET FLUSHES)
The patient's name is John.
John Smith.
Hello, I'm Doctor Lulu.
Yeah.
My colleagues and I were just
discussing your son's case.
Oh, I heard what
you were discussing.
We thought we were alone.
Of course you did.
But I'm here,
and my son is right
in front of you.
And my son can hear you
whether you believe it or not.
So from now on,
I don't want anybody
saying anything negative
about his prognosis
in this room.
We will all speak life
over John.
Do I make myself clear?
Mrs. Smith, we really
didn't mean to upset you.
I said, do I make myself clear?
Yes.
Great.
(JOYCE SIGHS)
JASON: Are you okay?
No.
If I'm honest,
my sugars are sky high,
and I have a pounding headache.
Okay, that's not good.
Yeah.
I need to go home
and get my insulin and I...
Go.
Look, Brian and I got this.
John's in stable condition.
Maybe you can actually
get some rest.
Okay.
(DOG WHINES)
(GASPS) Sammy!
I've missed you.
Oh, you must be starved.
Let's get you something.
(JOYCE SNIFFLES)
(THUD)
(JOYCE BREATHES DEEPLY)
(JOHN CHUCKLING)
(SIREN BLARING)
JASON: Hey.
He's stable.
No real changes.
(EKG BEEPING)
Um...
I, um...
I brought your Jordans
with me. (CHUCKLES)
I know no one's allowed
to touch them.
But I just thought that maybe...
(JOYCE SNIFFLING)
I can't wait to see you
shoot those baskets
and run up and down the court
again.
You are my pride and joy, John.
Do you hear your mother?
(EKG BEEPING)
And I love you to the moon.
(CHUCKLES)
- And don't you forget it.
- (EKG BEEPING)
John?
He just squeezed my hand!
JASON: What?
Seriously?
Yes, absolutely.
John, can you do it again?
Can you squeeze my hand?
Um, ask him something.
Uh, okay. Um...
John, squeeze my hand if...
(SNIFFLES)
Michael Jordan is
the best player of all time.
Show Pastor Jason
a thing or two.
I don't know.
LeBron is pretty amazing.
I don't know, I don't think
he can do it, Mom.
Grab his other hand.
Honey, squeeze my hand
for Jordan
and Jason's for LeBron,
okay, baby?
JASON: Come on, buddy,
you got this.
The best player
of all time, son.
JOYCE: Come on.
- (GASPS) Yeah!
- JASON: I saw it!
- Yeah!
- I saw it!
Um, John, who was it who got
a record six NBA titles?
(LAUGHS) Yeah!
- (EXCLAIMS)
- I feel you, John!
And who was it who hopped down
to Miami for a second,
crushing his fans
to get that ring?
He can hear us! (LAUGHS)
He squeezed my hand. Joyce!
He squeezed my hand.
Oh, my God.
We have to tell the doctors.
Oh, hell yeah!
(STAMMERING) I'm sorry.
I get pumped.
I'm going!
(EKG BEEPING)
It's Doctor Garrett, John.
Your mom tells me
that you can hear us.
Is that true?
(BREATHING)
JOYCE: Tell the doctor, John.
Greatest player of all time.
Squeeze my hand for Jordan,
and the doctor's for LeBron.
Okay, baby?
Doesn't have to be
a hard squeeze.
Just let us know
you're there, John.
Who won those
six NBA titles, buddy?
My hand for Jordan.
The doctor's hand for LeBron.
Okay, baby? You got this.
I just squeezed your hand, John.
You wanna just squeeze mine
right back?
Phantom or, uh,
random muscle tics are normal.
It wasn't random.
No, he was answering us.
DR. LULU:
I know it can seem like that.
(EKG BEEPING)
(SOUNDS OF TRAFFIC)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(JOYCE BREATHES DEEPLY)
JOYCE: Hey, girls.
- CHAYLA: Hi, Mrs. J.
- Thanks for coming.
- Hi.
- Hi. Thanks for coming.
Rieger, Josh,
get your butts over here
and give me a hug.
Listen, I'm so glad
you boys are okay.
I'm so sorry, Mrs. Smith.
It's our fault
that John is in here.
No.
So what matters now is that
you're here to support John.
It means the world
to his dad and me.
So thank you.
We brought cards that, um...
people made for John.
Wow. This is...
It's really wonderful.
Thank you.
Could you hold these a sec?
Excuse me, boys.
Thank you.
There's no words.
Listen.
- I'm so sorry.
- Not another word.
Cindy, it's not your fault.
Sorry.
RIEGER: Why'd we go out there?
CINDY: (SNIFFLING) I'm sorry.
- Hey. Hey, hey.
- Hey, hey.
What I wouldn't give to bench
that boy right now.
Did you see the Facebook page
that we made for John?
- JOYCE: No.
- It's gone viral.
Wow!
Oh, girls...
JOYCE: This is so...
Oh, this is so wonderful! Wow!
Look at...
these prayers and,
GIRL: I already did
my homework!
WOMAN: We came
to be supportive, honey,
and there's nothing left
for us to do here.
So we need to not overstay
our welcome.
- GIRL: I wanna stay longer!
- WOMAN: We need to go. Okay?
WOMAN 2: Girls, look, we need
to be prepared for the fact,
that John is probably
not going to make it. Okay?
I really don't think
you wanna be here for that.
- GIRL 2: Mom!
- WOMAN 2: I know I don't.
(CHATTERING)
EMMA: Mrs. J, are you okay?
Yeah.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Can I have your attention?
(CHATTERING STOPS)
(HUFFS)
Just down that hall,
do you know that John
is fighting for his life?
Okay?
And so in this room,
there is no negative talk
of any kind!
Nothing!
Okay?
Thank you.
Unreal.
- You okay?
- Far from it!
The nerve of these people!
Let's talk.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
What's up?
I'm worried about you.
I know you're angry.
Yeah. Yeah, you're right, I am.
The people in that room
are not your enemy,
even if they don't say
exactly the right thing.
Look, I support
what you said out there.
But the way you've spoken
to some of the staff, I just...
What, Brian? Say it.
I need you to show them some...
kindness
or decency.
I'm fighting for my son's life!
We all are!
Everybody is doing their best
in an impossible situation.
If it wasn't for me, our son
wouldn't be alive right now!
Wow, Joyce.
You're my wife. I love you.
But whatever happens,
I don't want you
to regret how you acted here.
In my heart of hearts,
I know that you don't want
that either.
Grinding people into the ground
isn't gonna save our son.
I am begging you
to remember who you are.
If not for me,
for John.
(FOOTSTEPS WALKING AWAY)
(EKG BEEPING)
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
Hey.
Wake up.
Honey, it's time to wake up.
Joyce, wake up!
My wife is diabetic.
I can't wake her!
Okay. Call for a crash cart,
let's go!
Somebody give me a hand!
(MACHINE BEEPS)
(SIGHS)
I'm fine now.
I think I just took too much
of my insulin last night.
You slipped
into a diabetic coma.
Her blood sugar
is up to 70, Doctor.
DR. GARRETT: Thank you, Nurse.
See? I'm fine.
Joyce, you coded!
I need to see John.
You need to rest
for at least eight hours.
I want to be with my son.
DR. GARRETT:
I'm not asking, Joyce.
You have Type 1 diabetes.
You're dehydrated,
emotionally fried,
and you haven't slept for days.
I need you here
for the long haul for John.
Three hours, not eight.
Best and final.
Joyce, I catch you in that room
in less than five hours,
I'll have you
involuntarily committed
and taken across the street.
- You wouldn't.
- He would, with my blessing!
Five hours, Joyce.
Make 'em count.
(FOOTSTEPS WALKING AWAY)
(BRIAN EXHALES)
(JOYCE EXHALES)
It's really not a good time
right now.
Yeah, I know, Joyce.
That's why I'm here.
What you must think of me.
(WHISPERING) You know what?
I think you are
the fiercest mama bear
that I've ever known.
How is John?
He's stable.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER PA)
So when I was 18,
I gave my first son up
for adoption.
I wasn't ready,
and my life was such a mess.
I've never forgiven myself.
I can't let it go.
I can't go back.
I can't fix it.
So I tell John how
to spend his allowance.
Brian what tie he should wear.
I insisted on naming our dog
"Sammy" for crying out loud.
John and Brian wanted "Yoda."
It's a pretty stupid name.
Thank you.
Oh, and you,
I still wanna fix your hair.
(CHUCKLES)
My whole life,
I have not stopped
trying to control the outcome.
I can't control this, can I?
Joyce, why don't you let God
handle it?
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
Well, looks like you're
allowed back upstairs again.
JOYCE: Yeah.
Um, if you don't mind,
I'm just gonna...
get a breath
of fresh air outside.
Okay, I'll tell everyone.
JOYCE: Okay.
JOYCE: And I know
that You love John,
just as much as I do.
Maybe more.
(CHIMES RINGING)
I'm sorry.
(CRYING) I am a...
I am a broken,
desperate,
woman full of pride.
(WHIMPERING)
But I get it.
(SNIFFLES)
I have to let him go.
I know You love me.
(SNIFFLES)
Whatever You have,
for John, for Brian, for me,
I surrender. I surrender.
Brian, is everything okay?
I don't think so.
(EKG BEEPING)
John's fever just hit 104.
Now, John's had
two full days of propofol.
And it's only meant to be
taken at most for 24 hours.
I think that's why
his fever's spiking.
BRIAN: You said the propofol
was needed
to keep John
in an induced coma.
DR. GARRETT: That's right.
We had no other choice but
to keep him deeply sedated.
My concern now,
with this raging fever,
is that the propofol
and the heavy-duty antibiotics
we're giving him,
will cause permanent
organ damage.
Then wake him up.
Excuse me?
Wake John up.
Take him off of everything
and let our son
fight for his life.
You just said
these things that he's on
are making him worse.
And even if John wakes up,
we know he'll probably
never live a normal life.
That's right.
Okay.
So we wake him up.
Okay.
Let's start tapering him off
all medication.
Tomorrow morning,
we wake him up.
(FOOTSTEPS WALKING AWAY)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
I think we need to ask for help.
All the help that we can get.
We're hearing tonight
that another miracle
is needed for John.
He is still in a coma,
and he is still fighting
for his life.
Joyce Smith, John's mother,
was unable to leave
her son's side.
But the family's pastor,
Jason Noble,
is joining me here tonight,
with something he'd like to say
on the family's behalf.
Jason.
We've reached
a critical juncture
in John's care.
So the Smith family
simply asks for one thing.
So please pray for John.
His mother, Joyce, believes
that God can do the impossible.
So we're asking Him
to do just that.
Thank you.
KAY: So the Smith family
is in need
of your prayers tonight,
as they face this
incredibly difficult ordeal.
When we first reported
on John's story,
we got such an outpouring
of care and concern
from the community.
His story continues
to touch so many lives.
And we are committed
to keeping you posted
every step of the way.
Our thoughts and prayers
are with you, John.
This is Kay Quinn reporting from
Cardinal Glennon Hospital.
Back to you in the studio.
(EKG BEEPING)
Lord, fill John's lungs tomorrow
with the breath of life.
Restoring him fully
if it be Your will.
(CHIMES RINGING)
(CHAYLA SINGING) You call me
out upon the waters
The great unknown
where feet may fail
And there I find You
in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon
Your name
Brian.
CHAYLA: And keep my eyes
above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul
will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours
And You are mine
CROWD: Spirit lead me where
my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
John.
I think everybody you know
is outside that window.
Take me deeper than my feet
could ever wander
And my faith
will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
Spirit lead me where my trust
is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet
could ever wander
I'm sorry...
(SNIFFLES)
for all the things
that I said to you.
I'm sorry.
I should've always
been right here.
By John's side.
And yours.
CROWD: Right here, right now
Someway, somehow
Right now, we need You
We can't do it without You
Right here, right now
Someway, somehow
Right now, we need You
We can't do it without You
Right here, right now
Someway, somehow
I will call upon Your name
And...
Keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul
will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours
And You are mine
(EKG BEEPING)
(EKG BEEPING)
JOYCE: Tommy?
I just wanna thank you
for saving my son.
I was just doing my job.
I hope he's gonna be okay.
- (EKG BEEPING)
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER ON PA)
I'm gonna give you guys
some privacy.
This feels like a family thing.
So I'm gonna be right down
the hall if you need me.
It is a family thing.
So I think you should stay.
Yeah.
Okay. (SNIFFLES)
Is everybody ready?
Okay.
Let's start with
the breathing treatment.
NURSE WENDY: This is going to
help open his airways and lungs.
And then we can remove
the breathing tube.
DR. GARRETT:
We're gonna extubate John.
John's lungs
have partially collapsed,
so this next part
won't be easy.
Move back a little bit, okay?
Okay.
(BEEPING STEADILY)
(EKG BEEPING STEADILY)
(EKG RAPIDLY BEEPING)
DR. GARRETT: Orderly.
(EKG RAPIDLY BEEPING)
- Is he okay? What is happening?
- BRIAN: Joyce!
DR. GARRETT: Let him hear
your voices.
BRIAN: John, it's Mom and Dad.
We're here for you, son.
- JOYCE: Everything's okay. We're right here.
- BRIAN: John, we're right here.
JOYCE: I love you. John?
DR. GARRETT: Oxygen.
Starting the flow, Doctor.
(HEART BEATING)
(HEAVY BREATHING)
DR. GARRETT:
Hmm. Okay, all right.
All right, he's breathing
on his own.
Okay, let's get him the Narcan.
0.4 milligrams, please.
(EKG BEEPING STEADILY)
GARRETT: This should kick-start
John into consciousness
within the next few minutes,
and then we'll see
what we're dealing with.
Hey, hey.
This went about as well
as humanly possible.
(SOBBING) That was awful.
- This is the process, Joyce.
- Okay.
Now, we wait.
(EKG BEEPING)
John.
John, baby.
(SNIFFLES)
I need you to fight.
John.
(SPLASHING)
JOYCE: You need to come back
to us now, John.
I need you to fight.
You can do it, John.
You need to come back
to us now, John.
You have a purpose
and you are loved.
I need you to fight.
(GASPS)
John?
John? (LAUGHS)
BRIAN: Oh, John!
DR. GARRETT:
You're okay, John.
(JOHN GASPS)
- Hey, John.
- JOYCE: We're right here.
Everything's okay.
Hey, John.
Can you understand
what I'm saying?
- You're okay, John.
- JOYCE: It's Mom and Dad.
And everyone's here.
Everyone's here.
You had an accident.
Do you know who I am?
I love you.
(EKG BEEPING)
Ma.
- (LAUGHS)
- BRIAN: John.
JOYCE: I'm here.
(ALL LAUGHING)
I'm right here.
(LAUGHS)
I'm here, baby. I'm here.
And in 1885, Douglass wrote
Narrative of the Life
of Frederick Douglass.
And it became
the preeminent example
of the literary genre known...
John is awake!
EMMA: His mom says he's talking.
Guys, his mom says he's talking!
Oh, my gosh! (GASPS)
John's awake!
John is awake! John is awake!
John is awake!
(ALL EXCLAIMING)
Oh, my God!
(KNOCKING ON WINDOW)
John is awake!
(ALL EXCLAIMING)
John Smith is awake!
I repeat, John Smith is awake!
(ALL CHEERING)
DR. GARRETT: Breathe.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
Again.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
One more time.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
Your lungs are very clear.
Your oxygen levels are up.
- NURSE WENDY: Doctor Garrett?
- Yes?
John's lung cultures came back
negative for bacteria.
Run them again, please.
Uh, I already did.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
- (DR. GARRETT GASPS)
- Is that a good thing?
That's a really good thing,
honey. (CHUCKLES)
Wendy, would you
help young John
with his breathing exercises?
NURSE WENDY: Absolutely.
When Wendy's ready,
I want you to breathe in deeply,
so we can test
your lung capacity.
Whatever you need.
"Whatever I need." (CHUCKLES)
Joyce.
(INDISTINCT MURMURING)
(DR. GARRETT EXHALES)
Forty-eight hours ago,
John's lungs were filled
with his own blood.
He needed constant adrenaline
just to keep his heart pumping.
His white blood cells
were being consumed
faster than any patient
I've ever seen.
His brain was experiencing
neurological devastation,
while simultaneously every one
of his major organs...
was failing.
Now, look at him.
I'm a doctor.
I'm supposed to know better.
But there's simply
no other explanation, Joyce.
(SIGHS)
Your son's a miracle.
Thank you.
(DR. GARRETT SNIFFLING)
STUDENTS: Surprise!
(JOYCE LAUGHS)
(SIGHS) Thank you.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(JOYCE SNIFFLES)
Thank you.
JOYCE: Oh, my goodness.
What's that?
Oh, my God!
So cool!
Oh, I can't grip it yet.
(LAUGHING)
Hey, Abby.
Hey, John.
(CHUCKLES)
(STUDENTS LAUGHING)
- Shut it, Chayla. Come on.
- (MEN LAUGHING)
- Two, one.
- (CAMERA CLICKS)
(CAMERA CLICKS)
(ALL LAUGHING, CHATTERING)
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(LIVELY CHATTER)
(APPLAUSE, CHEERING)
RIEGER: Hey, John!
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
JOSH: Welcome back, man!
(LAUGHS)
Whoo! John!
(CHEERING)
MRS. ABBOTT: Welcome back, John.
Thank you, Mrs. Abbott.
Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
MRS. ABBOTT: Okay, everyone,
let's turn to Chapter 19
in our history books.
- (SCHOOL BELL RINGS)
- (LIVELY CHATTER)
- Mrs. Abbott?
- Yeah.
I know I have a lot
to catch up on.
Oh, no, John.
Please, don't worry about it.
I'm just glad
to have you back.
Thank you.
Hey, John.
Uh, I was wondering,
Why do you think...
God chooses to save some
and not others?
It's just...
I lost my husband two years ago.
He had an aneurysm...
(SNIFFLING)
and died in his sleep.
And I'm still trying
to figure it all out.
I'm so sorry.
No, I'm sorry.
I don't know
what I was thinking.
Clearly, I wasn't thinking.
(CHUCKLES)
Why don't you go and catch up
with the rest of your friends?
I'll see you tomorrow. Okay?
(LIVELY CHATTER)
(DOOR SQUEAKS OPEN)
What's up, Miracle Boy?
Where you running off to?
Not gonna go try and, uh, walk
on water again, are you, John?
(DOG BARKING)
(PANTING)
(SIGHS)
(BIRDS SQUAWKING)
Tommy?
Tommy Shine?
John?
(JOHN LAUGHS)
It's good to finally meet you.
Yeah.
You too.
(BENCH CREAKS)
(TOMMY LAUGHS)
I was just sitting here
debating on whether...
coincidences happen in life.
Thank you for saving me.
I didn't save you, John.
I mean, I did, but I didn't.
In the water that day,
I was ready to give up
on you, man.
But then I hear this voice
telling me "Go back."
God told me where to find you.
(TOMMY CHUCKLES)
Well, if there's a God...
I don't know what
he's got planned for you,
but it must be something
pretty special.
Maybe that's true
for the both of us.
TOMMY: Way over there?
JOHN: Yeah, right there.
TOMMY: Oh.
JASON: Good morning!
CROWD: Good morning!
We have a little bit of a
surprise for you this Sunday.
I'd like to ask
a good friend of mine,
Joyce Smith, and her family,
to join me up here.
(ALL APPLAUDING, CHEERING)
WOMAN: We love you, John!
(APPLAUDING AND CHEERING
CONTINUES)
In all my years in ministry,
I mean, I've never
even seen anything
or heard of anything like this.
So, John, what do you remember?
- JOHN: This thing on?
- (MICROPHONE FEEDBACK)
(LAUGHTER)
Um...
Well, I do remember waking up.
(SIGHS)
And the first thing I saw...
(VOICE BREAKING)
was my mom, holding my hand.
And letting me know that
everything was gonna be okay.
When I was a baby,
and no one wanted me,
my parents wanted me.
And when no one thought
that I could make it back,
my mom knew that I could.
Mom...
I love you.
I love you.
(TEARFUL) Dad...
(SIGHS) I love you, too.
I love you, John.
And for those of you
who ask why me...
I don't know.
But a great teacher
once told me,
"Yesterday's not ours
to recover,
"but tomorrow is ours
to win or lose."
Lastly, I just wanna
thank the Lord.
(ALL APPLAUDING)
I thought it might be
a good idea for John
to meet some of the people
responsible for saving his life.
If you're part of the
Wentzville Fire Department,
would you please stand?
(ALL APPLAUDING)
If you're
an emergency dispatch officer
or an EMT member,
could you please stand
as well?
Now, if you're a member of the
Lake Saint Louis Police Department,
could you please stand?
If you're part of
the St. Joseph medical team,
could you stand?
(APPLAUSE, CHEERING)
And if you're part of the
Cardinal Glennon medical team,
could you stand?
(APPLAUSE CONTINUES)
Thank you so much
for your tireless service.
For your sacrifice.
If you could remain standing,
I'd like to ask anyone
who prayed for John
at school to stand.
I'd like anyone who prayed
for him at home to stand.
I'd like anyone
who prayed for him
in this very church to stand.
Thank you.
You can please be seated.
(SNIFFLING)
I think it's been said
that love...
is the most powerful force
on this earth.
And my husband and I,
we believe that...
without love,
we cannot flourish,
we cannot grow.
We cannot find our place
in this world.
And the power of love,
and God's love especially,
is truly the one and only thing
that makes all things possible.
(TEARFUL)
Thank you for loving John,
and thank you for loving us.
(SOBBING)
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
(ALL APPLAUDING, CHEERING)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Whoo!
(APPLAUSE, CHEERING)
COACH PAUL:
John! Eagle, eagle!
Eagle, eagle!
(ALL CHEERING)
(CLAP)