Butterbox Babies (1995) - full transcript

(gentle music)

(baby crying)

- She looks strong and healthy, Vivian.

Now, come on, Iris.

Help me clean up.

(children laughing)

You can go in and see your mom now.

Jimmy, you got another girl.

- Thank God you got here, Lila.

Doc Kennedy said there'd be no way

this baby would come on so quick.



- Well, I guess your wife knows better

to listen to her own
body than Doc Kennedy.

- [Jimmy] Well, speak of the devil.

(horn honking)

- Time for us to go, Iris.

(solemn music)
(gravel crunching)

You're a bit late, Doctor.

Mother and child are fine.

- What in God's name are
you doin', Lila Young?

- Why, the intended for me,
Doctor, delivering babies.

(engine revving)

(horn honks)
(solemn music)

- Did ya see the look he gave ya?

- Doctors don't walk on water, Iris.



They wash in it like the rest of us.

(Iris chuckles)

(gentle music)

Huh.

There's one of mine.

(horn honking)

- That old man's her father?

- No, he adopted her.

(sighs) Their life isn't all that easy.

Still, any home's better
than no home at all.

- You think I'm doin'
right, givin' mine up?

- Iris, you keep that child you'll pay

for the rest of your life.

Your own father beat ya and threw ya out.

You think the rest of the
world will be any different?

Give yourself another chance.

(gentle music)

(Lila sighs)

You Dorothy?

Dr. Young.

I'll get it.

(gentle music)
(engine rumbling)

- I see you got another one.

- [Lila] Can you put that
on our account, Hank?

- How many you got out there these days?

- 20.

- I guess your account will hold then.

Nice to see somebody making a
go of something around here.

Let me put these in the car for you.

(gentle music)

(engine rumbling)
(solemn music)

- Hey, Iris, go get Peter to
help you with the groceries.

Come on, Dorothy.

Thank you.

Easy now.

There you go.

Be right with ya.

(baby crying)

Outta respect for my girl's privacy,

they all get new names and
I'm puttin' you down as Daisy.

It's $150 for delivery,
adoption, room and board

and $12 for baby clothes and layette.

If it's too hard on you now,

you can stay on after
and work off your debt

in childcare and housekeeping.

Just pay what you can for now.

You're perfectly safe here.

We'll never kick ya out just as long

as you're pull your weight
and follow the rules.

All the girls are expected
to help with the chores.

Sign the second page.

- [Boy] Come on, give it to me.

- Yeah right.
- Run on inside you two

and blow the stink off of ya, come on.

Oh, you come with me.

- [Girl] I wanna go
out and play with them.

- My own brood of three.

Fern?

Will you look after Daisy here?

Give her the daily routine

and add her name to the chore list.

(Lila smooching)

(Lila sighs)
(children chattering)

- Daniel!
- Here's my better half.

Lila, Nurse O'Dwyer.

- [Lila and Ann] Hello.

- I've been so looking
forward to this interview.

Here are extra copies of
my references, Dr. Young.

- Why don't you two get acquainted?

- I prefer we keep our
business outta doors.

- Are all the patients
here maternity cases?

- Yeah (chuckles).

We didn't plan on it when
we opened this sanitarium,

but the Lord has given us the task

of refuging these poor girls.

They have nowhere else to go.

- I see.

You must get some pathetic cases.

- I deliver the girls their babies

and give them back their dignity.

I don't pass judgment.

- I don't think badly of
your girls, Mrs. Young.

Everybody deserves a
second chance in my books.

And you assist Dr. Young with
all the deliveries do you?

- When needed, Will assists me.

My husband is a chiropractic physician.

I am the obstetrician.

Graduated from

the School of Obstetrics
and Midwifery in Chicago.

- I didn't mean to offend.

I've never assisted a midwife before,

but I have great respect for what you do.

- Oh, well, so you should.

Women have been delivering
babies for thousands of years.

- Do you have a doctor on call?

- We have a doctor we can
call if he deigns to come.

- Well, most doctors don't give

a hoot about a girl's
plight anyway, I know that.

- (sighs) Truth is it's the
Minister of Health forcing

us to take on a nurse we can ill afford.

I can use someone for deliveries

and to work a few regular days a week.

- Look, I'm in no position to turn

down anything you can offer Mrs. Young.

- A job's a job, is it?

- I didn't mean that either.

I'm a good nurse.

I do what I'm told.

Give me a chance.

- My husband and I are
Seventh Day Adventists.

We don't allow tobacco

or any other stimulants on the premises.

- The new girls' water just broke!

She's havin' it in the middle of the hall!

- You can start now if you like!

(Dorothy/Daisy screaming)

- Shh.

It's all right, you're all right.

Shh.

You're all right.

It's all right.

It's all right, Daisy.

Shh, it's all right.

(Dorothy/Daisy sobbing)

God keep you, little one.

(Dorothy/Daisy sobbing)

Oh.

It's all over now.

It came before it's time.

It's not your fault.

(Dorothy/Daisy sobs softly)

(pensive music)
(liquid splashing)

- I need a breakfast tray
for Daisy, Mrs. McPhee.

- Oh, we're doin' room service now are we?

- She can't move.

The poor girl has to eat.

- I'll do it for ya.

- Thank you.

- Thanks, Iris.

(pensive music)

- Sneakin' a peek at
your girlfriend, Petey?

He figures a girl fell
once, she'll fall again.

- A butterbox?

- It's a perfectly good pine box.

Put a wiggle into that breakfast
tray and come back quick.

We gotta get the wee bastards fed.

(solemn music)

- Should I notify the authorities?

(Lila smirks)

- Last time we did that
the poor thing rotted

in our shed, what, three weeks before

those clowns in Public Health
issued a burial certificate?

No.

The girl's suffered enough.

We don't need the government standing

by to enumerate their sins.

- I suppose.

If they had their way,
they'd try and outlaw

all illegitimate birds period.

- "Suffer the little
children to come unto me

and forbid them not, for such
is the kingdom of heaven.

And he took them up into his arms

and laid his hand upon
them and blessed them."

Amen.

- Amen.

(solemn music)

Sometimes I think the lucky ones

are those that go straight
back to God's arms.

- Oh, whether your time's too
short or your time's too long,

there are no days of heaven here on Earth.

- Oh, I wish that blasted Frank
Davis would leave us alone.

- (chuckles) If wishes were nickels,

our place would be somethin' wouldn't it?

- I got a call from the
local register in Chester.

Apparently Davis wants
to improve our paperwork

and his statistics or
so they made the excuse.

- [Will] Things will be different

once we have church sanction.

- Oh yes, that'll certainly shake

up Frank Davis and the
rest of those meddlers

over at the Ministry of Health, eh?

- "I gladly baptize you
in the name of the Father

and of the Son and of Holy Ghost."

Amen.

- [All] Amen.

- [Woman] Praise Him.

(water splashing)

- "As the Lord forgave Mary Magdalene,

so shall your sins be washed away."

(water splashing)

- Come on (groans).

There you go.

- Right?

- Yeah.

(sighs) Thank you, Reverend Beggs.

- With his lay experience,

William could do this on his own.

- Oh, we're glad to have you here.

- Yeah, for more reason than this.

We received rather disappointing news.

The church has informed
us it is not prepared

to sponsor our sanitarium as
a charitable organization.

- Well, don't these women pay fees?

(Lila exhales)

- We don't want to charge the girls.

Most of them can't pay anyway.

Reverend, we could have a mission here

just like Battle Creek.

We could, but without church endorsement,

we can't carry out our good work.

We badly need donations.

- Oh, there are enough
draws on the church's purse.

You'll do fine.

It's hard, but some of these
girls need hard lessons.

- These girls are not sinners.

- Forgive us, Lord,
but we are all sinners.

You can have a tidy little business here,

if you tighten your own purse
and watch your bottom line.

Be thankful of that.

(solemn music)

- That's the best piece
of advice we'll ever get.

- Well, we're all doing God's bidding.

- He wouldn't know God's bidding

if it came up and bit him in the ass.

(Will laughs)

- Come on, Daisy.

Dr. Young'll have our heads

on a platter if we're not downstairs.

(Dorothy/Daisy sobbing)

- Iris, there's a pile
of laundry mile high,

needs folding in the kitchen.

(solemn music)
(Dorothy/Daisy sobs)

Well, what's all this about?

Hm?

- Don't make me stay here.

I wanna go home (sobbing).

- We'll see what we can do about it, hm?

That's a good girl, now.

(seagulls squawking)
(boat horn blaring)

- He said he'd be straight over.

- Good.

- Lila, I don't know about this.

- The girl has to go home,
Will, and somebody has to pay.

It's the only way to see justice done.

- He'll have his date with God.

- First he has a date with me.

(Will sighs)

Mr. Macdonald?

- What's this all about?

- Would you please get in the car

so we could have a little talk?

(boat horn blaring)

You do remember Miss Thomas?

- Oh.

Hi there, you.

- So you do recall meeting
at a dance in Saint John?

- Yeah, sure.

Dorothy, right?

So, how ya been?

(engine rumbling)
(pensive music)

I'm a married man, I got two kids.

- Should've thought of
that before you destroyed

the life of this young girl here.

- Look, I'm awful sorry.

- Sorry?

Sorry isn't gonna pay the $150

it takes to feed and clothe
your baby 'til it's adopted.

- But I don't have it!

- Then borrow it.

- Would you ruin my family
for a lousy 150 bucks?

- Would you?

- All right.

But it won't be paid in
nothin' more than installments.

(pensive music)

(children chattering)
(solemn music)

- He has the right to know

the baby's dead and buried doesn't he?

- No.

Then he'd leave ya high
and dry for certain.

Be glad ya can put all this behind ya

and get on with your life.

The Lord accepts just cause
and that man deserves to pay.

(solemn music)

- [Receptionist] There's a Dr. Kennedy

to see you, Dr. Davis.

- Pat, good to see you.

What brings you into town?

- Frank, I know you're a busy man.

- Oh, nonsense.

I was just thinking about you.

Sit down.
- Oh.

- I just appointed a bright,

young graduate social worker

to look after Public
Health in your district.

- And this Lila Young bullshit I hope?

- Well, I understand the
Young's have complied

with our order and hired
a registered nurse.

- So what?

That woman has advertised
in the newspapers

for those sluts to come and
camp out in her own backyard.

They've hoodwinked half the county

into thinkin' that they're doctors.

Why, even some of my own patients,

married women are goin' to her now.

- Pat, why don't you try working with her?

- Oh (chuckles), the only
time she ever calls me

is when she wants somebody to go

in there and clean up her mess.

You know the rumors.

Dumpin' dead infants from
fishing boats into the sea

and God knows where else.

- On the surface, there
is nothing irregular

about the way things are run.

- Listen, you look beneath the surface.

How do ya think that witch doctor

is treatin' infections, eh?

And smallpox and whoopin' cough

and the common cold for God's sake?

Infant mortality is bad enough

in the best hospitals in this city.

How many babies do you think
are dyin' in a dump like that?

- Not according to our records.

- Oh, your records mean jack squat

out there and ya know it.

They're breakin' the law.

Step up your inspections.

- These folk got a 10 cent business

in an area where there is little else.

- Maybe you'd see a different

if the 10 cents was comin'
out of your own pocket.

- Fine, I'll call a registrar in Chester

and I'll have him deny them
anymore death certificates

until the R.C.M.P. have
investigated each case.

Will that make ya happy?

- No, shut her down,

or face the consequences
come election time.

(solemn music)

(door slams)

(solemn music)

(Russell knocking)

(Russell's throat clears)

- Good afternoon.

I'm Russell Cameron from Public Health.

I'm here to inspect the premises.

- [Iris] Just a moment,
I'll get Dr. Young.

- What's this all about?

Another make work project
from the Minister of Health?

- [Russell] (chuckles) I just
happened to be in the area.

- Oh, I have no doubt of that.

- Well, I'd like to see the
nursery please, since I'm here.

Mrs. Young I presume?

- Don't presume anything, young man.

Follow me.

I don't have all blessed day.

The Lord has certainly
cut out our workforce.

Thank you, Violet.

(baby babbling)

As you can see, it's clean.

- Who watches them all?

This one nurse?

- Nurse O'Dwyer, myself and the others

see that they're fed and changed.

- And do you ever take them outside?

- [Lila] Of course.
- Let them out of their cribs?

- Yes, of course.

But babies need quiet time, too.

The only way to care for
this number of infants

is to keep to a strict routine,

which Mr. Cameron, I
would like to get back to.

Thank you, Nurse.

- [Russell] Have you had
any recent fatalities?

- Only the stillborns.

- You are under Ministry
obligation to register any death.

- And I'm happy to comply if the infant

is full term and not a miscarriage.

(pensive music)

(door slams)

- [Russell] That's not our intention.

Mrs. Young, we are simply trying to-

- [Lila] Dr. Young.

- (sighs) We are simply trying

to ensure that these young
women and their infants

are receiving satisfactory
care, that's all.

- You go back and tell the
honorable Minister of Health

that if he cared at all
about these young women,

his government wouldn't treat
them like common criminals.

- I don't think it's his intention-

- He spends our taxes on the likes

of those grim institutions

that condemn the girls as sinners.

Whereas homes like mine that
are doing God's bidding,

defending the girls from malicious gossip

in the spirit of Christian
forgiveness, go without.

- Look, I'm not trying to criticize you,

but let's you and I
get something straight.

I'm trying to make a fair and a thorough-

- You're trying to do the
bully work of Dr. Frank Davis

and a lot of lily-livered doctors

that can't seem to bear
honest competition.

Have a pleasant drive back
to Halifax, Mr. Cameron.

- Thank you, I will.

- [Lila] God bless you.

(door slams)
(pensive music)

(lighter flicks)

(pensive music)

- Look, Frank, you hired
me to bring in new reforms.

Well, I'm telling you
that this place sticks

out like a sore thumb.

I think the billing
system that they've got

in place over there, frankly,

I think that it lends itself to abuses.

What she's charging those girls
up front, it's outrageous.

- Why the hell shouldn't they pay?

They got themselves into trouble.

- So why, what? So what
is that supposed to mean?

That the Young's should be able

to do what they bloody
well please with them?

Look, with an upfront payment system

it is an incentive to move these girls in

and out as quickly as possible.

And in fact, the faster they
do, the more money they make.

I mean, even on something
like a daily rate,

these girls would have
a much better chance

of receiving proper care.

- I sent you out there to
do a routine inspection,

not to go off on some bloody crusade.

Now, are the babies healthy?

- What?

I don't know.

I'm a social worker, Frank.

You're the doctor.

What, don't you have proper
medical staff in there?

Check up on the place?

- Well, surely you would be able

to notice if there were any
signs of contagious infection.

- See, the thing is nobody acts the way

that she did unless they've
got something to hide.

- Well, where's the proof?

- Look, all I know is I don't trust

the woman as far as I can throw her.

She's got religion oozing out
of every gland in her body.

It's enough to make you sick.

(Frank chuckles)

- Try to see it her way.

She's had this business going for what?

10 years without any interference.

- Lila Young hasn't a single
kind word to say about you.

- The woman is an ignorant
harridan no doubt.

But she does have friends in the community

and I'm in the business
of protecting votes.

(Russell chuckles)

- Look, unless we can license
and regulate that place

it is gonna be a flagship for every

other private maternity
home in this province

to extort money for substandard care.

- Change takes time.

- Change-

- And we're dealin' with
public opinion here.

And frankly, the public doesn't care

what happens to these girls.

So, just write up your
reforms and then talk to me.

(baby whimpering)
(gentle music)

- Ann, can I hold her?

- Well, just for a minute.

(baby gurgling)
(gentle music)

- I wonder if my mother
ever held me like this.

- Sure she did.

- I hardly remember her.

Dad brought us up.

- Nurse O'Dwyer, I said to take
that baby up to the nursery.

- No, I wanna hold her just for a little.

- No, Iris.

You know the baby
- Please, let me.

- has to go upstairs.

- No, no, let go.
- Just leave her.

Please.
- Let her go.

- Please, let me.

Just leave her, please.

- Iris, Iris, Iris,
- I wanna hold her.

- calm yourself. We've talked
- I know, I want her.

- about this before.

Now, it's for your own good.

- I know (sobbing).

- Aw, don't get yourself upset.

(Iris sobbing)
(solemn music)

- Just there, Sir.

(pensive music)

(Virginia laughs)

- There she is.

- There's just the matter
of the girl's expenses

so we can let her go home to her folks.

- Why don't we go and show

the Senator his new granddaughter.

(Virginia chuckles)
(baby whimpering)

Senator, it's such an honor having

you at our home and meeting you finally.

- You've made my son and
daughter-in-law very happy.

- Young lady, if you have
any problems or questions,

don't be a stranger.

- [Senator] Let's get my
granddaughter home, shall we?

- Thanks so much, Dr. Young.

- We really are very,

very grateful.
- Good luck.

- Thank you.

(solemn music)

- [David] Let's go.

(engine rumbling)
(solemn music)

- They've cleared your bill.

You can go home now.

- I wish I could find a home half

so good for all the babies born here.

Oh, Iris.

Your little girl will want
for nothing in this life.

Hm?

Why don't you get the boys
and bring 'em in for supper?

(solemn music)

(Iris exhales)

(door latches)

(carriage rattling)
(pensive music)

- Whoa, whoa.

♪ On the dawn ♪

You wait here.

♪ The river ♪

♪ The beautiful, the beautiful river ♪

♪ Gather with the saints of the river ♪

I sent a cable.

- Oh, well please come in.

- Come in Mr. Lang, close
the door and sit down.

Are you the father of this girl's baby?

- I suppose so.

- Put the cigarette out.

My husband and I run this sanitarium

in accordance with our beliefs.

No tobacco or other
stimulants on the premises.

Does the girl have family?

- Up by Seaforth.

They ain't about to interfere.

I'm the one that cares about Eva.

- Not so much as to marry her.

- Things ain't always so easy.

- Things never are.

- It's such a-

- Eva?

Eva?

- She's deaf.

- We're going to call you
Rose to protect your privacy.

Do you understand?

- Rose?

- And we're gonna take
care of you and your baby.

Good.

(solemn music)

(carriage rattling)

(Eva/Rose gasping)

- Don't give up on us, do
you understand me, Rose?

- If you can't keep her still
we'll have to tie her down.

- God, please!

Take me!

I'm good!

- He knows you're good, but
you gotta keep on trying.

Now, come on, Rose, try.

Push!

- God, please (groaning)!

- I need fundal pressure.

(suspenseful music)
(Eva/Rose gasping)

- Should I prepare more ether?

- No, she's no use to me
if she's too far gone.

- You're okay, Rose.

You're doing okay.

- Oh, good Lord!

- What is it?

- What's her pulse?

(suspenseful music)

I'm worried that placenta
is separated already.

- Thready and faint.

130.

She's going into shock.

- We gotta get that baby outta there.

(Lila groans)

- Can I help?

- No!
- Missus-

- Iris, get out.

(suspenseful music)

- Lila?

- Don't let her get the others upset.

What's her pressure?

- 60 over 40.

- Should I call Doc Kennedy?

- Prepare the ether.

- Lila, what are you doing?

We can't handle this alone.

We need help.

We've got to call her doctor.

- No time.

(pensive music)

- We're gonna lose 'em both.

(suspenseful music)

Come on, Rose, listen to me.

What do you think you're doing?

- We have to look to the girl.

More ether.

Put her right out.

- Lila, you can't.

- I said put her out.

(suspenseful music)

(Ann panting)
(crickets chirping)

- Ann?

- Let her go.

- Apparently the girl's parents
don't live anywhere near

a phone or a Telegraph,

but I managed to get in
touch with the baby's father.

(crickets chirping)

Are you all right?

(solemn music)

(Ann sniffling)
(solemn music)

- We did everything we could.

No doctor could've saved that baby either.

(solemn music)

(baby crying)

I'll leave you alone with her for awhile.

- How is she?

- She's weak.

- Come to the office when you're through.

We need to discuss the burial
arrangements for your son.

(solemn music)
(baby crying faintly)

(Walter sobbing)
(solemn music)

- (sighs) Just about time for me to go.

- You take care of yourself, Iris.

- For sure.

I'm off to my sister's.

- [Will] That'll be nice.

- Hope so.

Looks like I might be
able to stay with her

and her family for a wee while anyway.

- I'll take you to the
station if you like?

- Now it's time to go
it's not so easy (sighs).

Last thing my dad ever said to me

was I was a worthless tramp.

Nobody'd give me a kind word 'til you did.

Please don't make me go.

- Sooner or later, you're gonna have

to get out on your own, Iris.

- It doesn't have to be today.

- Rose is hemorrhaging again.

We have to get her into
hospital in Halifax now!

(suspenseful music)

(engine rumbling)
(suspenseful music)

- [Lila] Hold on for me, Rose.

Hold on.

(suspenseful music)
(engine rumbling)

Won't have a thing to worry about.

They'll fix ya up fine.

Hold on for me, Rose.

(solemn music)

(Lila sighs)

(solemn music)

- 7 x 10 is 70.

7 x 11 is 77.

7 x 12 is 84.

- Now the eights.

- [Boy] 8 x 1 is 8.

- Death occurred from
an internal infection,

which led to a severe loss of blood.

Her infection was probably brought on

through the use of improperly
sterilized instruments.

As to the male babe, I'm fairly confident

it actually breathed though imperfectly.

It suffered severe injury to the head

and destruction of the brain.

- How in God's name
could this have happened?

- I guess it'd be through use of forceps,

but don't quote me.

- She's not licensed to use forceps.

- The infant was too
large for the birth canal.

In dramatic deliveries of this kind,

she had three options.

Call in a doctor, allow
nature to take its course

and watch them both die,

or ignore the law and take
matters into her own hands.

You know Lila Young.

What do you think she did?

This should be grounds for an arrest.

(solemn music)

- Hypocrites.

(solemn music)

- [Guard] Your brother's
here to see you, Mrs. Young.

- William.

Lila.

(sighs) They got a case
against ya all right.

(Lila sighs)

- It's a lotta nonsense.

A buncha arrogant bureaucrats
trying to humiliate me.

- They've charged you with
two counts of manslaughter.

- Eva Nyforth was the first girl to die

in our care in eight years.

How many homes, how many
doctors can claim that?

- That means bugger all, Will.

They're gonna prosecute you.

- Persecute us you mean.

- You need a good lawyer.

- I've never asked for
your help before Fred,

and we'll pay back every nickel.

- I can't raise this kind
of bail on my own, you know?

I'll talk to the family.

See what we can come up with.

- Always comes down to money doesn't it?

The fact we have a business,

our family's been here for
100 years means nothing.

Them that have get and
the rest of us can rot.

- Sit tight.

It'll take a couple of days.

I'll see what I can do.

- God bless you, Fred.

(solemn music)

(court attendees chattering)
(solemn music)

- I suspect they'll try and
prove lack of adequate care

by claiming illegal forceps interference.

Remember, they have no
such instrument entered

into their evidence.

If you say you didn't do it,

it's your word against
that of their pathologist.

- Mr. Justice, John Doull, all rise.

- [Crown Attorney] Dr. Smith,
could you please describe

to us the condition of the Nyforth baby?

- Yes.

It had suffered severe injury to the head

and destruction of the brain.

The baby's head had been cut
across the top from ear to ear.

The occipital bone had been broken.

The scalp had been partly torn away

and two frontal bones had been loosened.

- And in your expert opinion, Doctor,

what could have caused this?

- The unskillful use of
instruments, forceps.

- Are you aware that legally,

a midwife may not perform
any surgical procedure?

- Yes, I am.

- Tell the court Miss O'Dwyer,

did Mrs. Young attempt
a surgical procedure

in her effort to deliver the Nyforth baby?

(pensive music)

Miss O'Dwyer?

- Yes.

She found it necessary to use instruments

that she did not normally use.

- Thank you.

No further questions, Your Honor.

(solemn music)

(Will's throat clears)

- The crisis came on quickly.

It was emotionally charged.

As the attending nurse,
hadn't you responsibilities

that required your immediate
care and full attention?

- Yes.

I monitored blood pressure, pulse.

I kept a close eye on
her level of sedation.

- So, you couldn't possibly
have watched Mrs. Young

at all times could you?

- I was in the room.

- I see.

You saw unfamiliar instruments,

but you didn't watch, not closely.

- Not closely, no, I-
- Thank you.

She believes she saw
unfamiliar instruments,

but she cannot say that she
closely watched the procedure.

Thank you.

No further questions, Your Honor.

- She used forceps.

And when I asked her what she was doing,

she told me she had to look to the girl.

- I thought they were doctors.

If I didn't believe that Eva

was gonna get the best of care,

I would have never left her
in the hands of that woman.

Never.

She said Eva was gonna get
better, but she lied to me.

She killed my little Eva,

and she killed my son.

(court attendees whispering)
(pensive music)

- There was nothing else I could do.

The infant was stillborn.

Any question of saving it
had been answered by God.

- The provincial pathologist suggests

the baby was alive and breathed.

- That doctor is looking for
any excuse to prove me guilty,

anything to support his
contempt of our mission.

He's in there with the Health
Minister and Dr. Kennedy.

They think that my work is
dirty, that my girls are dirt.

(court attendees chattering)

I stand here before God
and know in my heart,

I've done nothing wrong.
(gavel banging)

- Mrs. Young, please.

- So, you do no surgery at the sanitarium?

- None whatsoever.

Nor abortions.

- And you deny using any instruments

that might cause the damage
described by Dr. Smith?

- The baby was too big for the birth canal

and it had water on the brain.

The skull was soft and easy

to puncture even with gloved hands.

- Mrs. Young, I'm sure
the court is curious

to know why you do this kind of work.

- My husband and I feel
it is our responsibility,

our Christian duty.

Since we opened our refuge,

you can well imagine how
many girls have come to us.

Often they are 15, 16 year old children.

Guilt-ridden, desperate,
discarded by their families,

abandoned by their so-called lovers,

and often after they've done everything

in their power to rid themselves
of the baby inside them.

Scalding beds, turpentine,
knitting needles.

- Objection, Your Honor.

The defense is purposely allowing

this witness to digress.

- Sustained.

Mr. Rutledge?

- Tell us in your own words then,

what happened to Eva Nyforth
and her baby, Mrs. Young?

- Will and I took Eva
Nyforth into our home

out of Christian love.

There was Bible instruction
and daily prayer,

an atmosphere respectful of our beliefs.

I sat with that girl day and
night after her delivery,

nothing more could have
been done to save her life.

It should be put on record
that Dr. Pat Kennedy

has frequently refused
to come to our sanitarium

with deliveries that were also
a matter of life and death.

I couldn't move her in a crisis.

I had to look to the safety
of the mother on my own.

- Objection, Your Honor,

the defense pointedly refuses
to control his client.

This woman knowingly placed herself above

the medical profession and the law

by undertaking a surgical
procedure on an innocent patient,

a procedure in which she has no training,

let alone a medical license.

- Your witness is
incompetent and insensitive.

Ask your pathologist, Mr. Robertson,

about the disgusting and inhumane way

he tossed that girl's body like

a heap of garbage into a box!

(court attendees exclaiming)

- Control your client. Mr. Rutledge.

- We took that poor child in
because she made a mistake.

She just made a mistake.

You may choose to believe
the local doctors,

Pat Kennedy and the Health
Minister, Frank Davis,

who hate and revile my girls,

but my judge is God.

And God knows I did everything

in my power to save Eva Nyforth.

(court attendees chattering)
(pensive music)

- We, the jury find the
accused, William Pete Young,

and Lila Gladys Young, on all counts,

not guilty.

(Lila gasps)
(court attendees chattering)

- As David smoked the
Philistine, praise God!

(gavel banging)

- Order.

The Young's are conducting their business,

an unfortunately necessary one

in our society in good faith.

Let's see them do it quietly

and with less interference henceforth.

This case is closed.

(gavel bangs)

(pensive music)
(court attendees chattering)

(children laughing)

- Stop it.
- Bud!

- Get off my toes!

- [Matron] Come along, children.

(girl giggles)
(child shushing)

Orderly fashion, no running.

- [Girl] Shh, quiet.

- [Matron] There you go,
Billy. We're already complying

with the new regulations, Mr. Cameron.

- Good.

If all the homes were
this cooperative Matron,

I'd have nothing to do.

- You'll want to see the
register in my office of course.

We not only take down names and addresses,

but we now have the
girls occupations if any.

(children chattering)

- John?

- [John] Russ!

- (chuckles) How are you?

(John chuckles)

- I heard tell it was
you that got together

this Maternity Boarding House Act?

- Yeah.

- Great guns.

- Well, I didn't quite get
everything I'd hoped for but.

- You'll drag us kickin' and screamin'

into the 20th century yet.

- Yeah.

What's wrong with this little one?

- Well, look at his legs.

Rickets.

His mother drowned after a drunken brawl

over at Mary's Cove.

Terrible tragedy.
(baby crying)

Now the relatives don't have
anything to do with the child.

- And why is that?

- Well, she only adopted the
kid a couple of months ago.

Apparently paid five bucks for him over

at the Young's home in East Chester.

- He was already in a sorry
state before he left that home.

I'm certain.

- And this isn't the first case
of theirs I've seen either.

Ear infections, deafness,

blood poisoning, even malnutrition.

I dread to think what else
happens over at that place.

- Well, at least they'll be forced

to raise their standards now
with the new regulations.

- You're not gonna license them are ya?

- Well, "Better to license them

and have some control over their business

than to have them go
unlicensed with no control."

The great and honorable
philosopher, Dr. Frank Davis.

He's got the Life and Health
Sanitarium in his writing.

- Well, you'll rue the day
you ever license Lila Young.

(solemn music)
(engine rumbling)

- [Iris] It's not such a bad place.

- [Red Headed Woman] If
I had a husband there's

no way you'd catch me here.

After bunking with the Young's

and 20 knocked up broads, I'd
kill to be alone with someone.

- [Iris] Quit your belly achin'.

You're darn lucky to be taken in.

- [Red Headed Woman] In this prison?

After I get out, I'm
takin' a whole day in bed,

drinkin' coffee and smokin'
'til I'm blue in the face.

- [Russell] That should
do you a world of good.

(plate shatters)

- Not everything a girl
does can be good for her.

- [Russell] Apparently not.

Who's in charge here?

- Can I help ya?

- I'm Russell Cameron, Assistant
Director of Child Welfare.

Where is Nurse O'Dwyer?

- [Red Headed Woman] She
doesn't work here anymore.

- You'll have to speak to Dr. Young.

They'll be back soon.

- Well, I'll need to see the nursery.

(solemn music)

Do the mothers look
after their own infants?

- Lila, Dr. Young doesn't
like that sorta thing.

- No.

- They get attached, eh?

- Yeah.

- She gets them adopted
out as quick as she can.

- Don't any of them keep their own kids?

- Uh uh.

- Well, surely she can't
adopt them all out?

- No.

- What about these babies?

They've been here awhile.

- They've been sick.

They're okay now.

People won't take a sick baby.

- And what about the ones
that don't get better?

(babies babbling)

Well, I'll need to see Mrs. Young's files.

- The Young's will back real soon.

- Unfortunately, I don't have time to wait

and regulations oblige you to open up

your files to me at any
time without notice.

- Well, all right, then.

(gentle music)
(engine rumbling)

- Hello you two.

So good to see you.

- Oh, when did you
start kissin' everybody?

No.
- Oh, for Pete sake, Lila.

You're my sister.

Nice to see you, too.

So, do you want drinks?

- Here's half of what we owe.

Tell the others they'll
get the rest by Christmas.

- [Iris] I'm sure the Young's
will be back from lunch soon.

- I also need to see
the latest registrations

of births and deaths, please.

(pensive music)
(papers rustling)

Oh, thank you.

And what are these, the
accounts receivable?

- Some girls pay in
installments type thing, eh?

- Oh, and the adoption files please.

So I see you've had your baby, huh?

- Uh huh.

- How come you're still here then?

- Nowhere else to go.

Mrs. Young's been good to me.

(pensive music)
(papers rustling)

- Excuse me, Doctor and Mrs. Young.

- Oh, Senator.
- How are you keeping?

- Senator.

- Thank you.

- I apologize for disturbing you,

but I want to introduce you
to Mrs. Elizabeth Chadway

and Mr. Clayton Oliver of New York.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- Mrs. Young, we've heard a great deal

about the wonderful work you're

doing here with troubled girls.

- Really?

- Yes, you see a Mrs.
Chadway involves herself

in a great many benevolent
activities in New York City.

- We're here for the summer.

Perhaps we might have the opportunity

to get together and discuss your work.

- That'd be lovely.

- Good.

- Gentlemen.

- Senator, say hello
to Virginia and David.

- Oh, I will.

They'll be pleased.

Their little Jeanette
is doing just famously.

- Glad to hear it.

- See?

It pays to eat in the right places.

- Don't fool yourself
you're so posh, Fred.

- Fool yourself, a few others,
pretty soon Lila, you are.

- What do you suppose

this Mrs. Chadway wants?
- Stop it!

Quit pushin'!

Ow!

- Boys, settle down!

- Daniel, get into your night shirt.

(boys laughing)

She's not a candidate for an adoption.

Maybe she wants to talk
about her benevolent work.

Hand me that.

- Or maybe we found our first benefactor.

(crickets chirping)

(gentle music)

- We keep hearing excellent reports

on your work, Mrs. Young.

- [Lila] Really?

- Yes, we understand that you
guarantee complete privacy

for both the deliveries and the adoptions.

- Privacy above all.

People are so quick to blame the girls.

Their lives are wrecked
under the weight of it.

- So you're doing a high
volume of adoptions then?

- Reasonably so.

Hard though, finding families

who can afford to take them in.

- Ah, there she is.

This is Fiona, my granddaughter.

- How far along are
you, about five months?

- Privacy you see would
be the first consideration

for a girl like Fiona.

- It is for all my girls.

- Well, Fiona can stay
on here after we leave.

We'll just say that she's gone straight

on to finishing school.

- You didn't have to invite me here.

You coulda just brought
her to the Sanitarium.

What we were hoping is
that you'd be kind enough

to arrange for Fiona's
care here in this house.

- That wouldn't be practical for me.

- Please, don't make me
go to that home, Nana.

- But I'm willing to pay whatever

is necessary to handle this
matter with the utmost delicacy.

- Delicacy's part of my
package, no extra cost.

- Please.

You're not giving me the
opportunity to explain.

- Don't bother.

Sex really is society's great leveler.

If you wanna discuss this
further, bring her to my office.

Good day.

(Mrs. Chadway sighs)

- Mrs. Young?

Look, I know how you must feel.

- I doubt it.

If you want me to look after the girl,

you know where to find me.

- This is particularly uncomfortable

for them and no one has
wished to offend you.

- Nope.

I'm sure it's just
instinct with you people.

- May I put the issue of
Fiona aside for one minute?

Mrs. Young, how many babies have

you got up there at any given time?

- Pardon me?

- You implied the locals don't

make particularly good
parental candidates.

So at the end of the day,

you must have your hands full of children.

Is that so?

- I don't see what this
has to do with you.

- My law firm in New York has
plenty of well-off clients,

wonderful potential parents
I would have thought.

People who would pay the world

for a beautiful, healthy baby,

but they can't get anywhere
with the state run agencies.

It's too much red tape,
it's too long to wait.

You can pretty well name your price.

You don't have to say yes
right now, just take my card.

Unfortunately, I'm going
back to New York tomorrow,

but if you wanna talk about
some business, just call me.

(engine rumbling)

Thank you.

(pensive music)

- Well, we can hardly be
seen to publicly object

to the Young's going after
the father for support

when we're trying to
impose the same measures

through our own institutions.

- Frank, look at the dates.

- [Frank] Hm?

- Look, the kid was dead.

This is a clear cut case of fraud.

They threatened the poor bastard
into coughing up 150 bucks.

- Have you talked to this Jordy Macdonald?

- Yeah.

- And is he willing to testify?

- Yeah, yeah, reluctantly but he will.

(lighter flicks)
(pensive music)

(Frank sighs)

- Marie, get me Corporal Stevens.

- Rutledge did such a good job
for us on the Nyforth case.

I can't understand why
he won't take this one.

- I never liked the man to begin with.

He just wanted his name in the paper.

Well, it was our case
that made his reputation

and now he's too good for us?

Nothin' but politics.

- What are we gonna do?

(pensive music)

- We're going to get a better lawyer

and I don't care how much it costs.

And we're not going begging
to my family again either.

(rotary dial spinning)

- Who are you callin'?

- Long distance please.

- Right now I have several couples,

both in New Jersey and in New York.

- How much would they be willing to pay?

- In certain cases
$1.000, maybe even $2.000.

My clients have already
been through the system.

Mostly they've been rejected
because the state run homes

will not allow a baby to be adopted

by a couple of a
different religious faith.

I gather you two have
no such restrictions?

- We need to talk this over.

- I didn't travel all this
way to get jimmied around.

The sooner I can get a decision

the sooner I can put the
money in your pockets.

- How much do you get out of all this?

- We'll meet them first.

- Yeah, Doctor, please don't
take this the wrong way,

but we're so grateful for
this precious little one.

We waited a long time.

- You were the first
people who have helped us

when no one else would.

- A baby isn't born with a religion.

That comes from the parents.

- We wanted to do something
for your mission here.

An additional contribution.

- You are doing a truly
wonderful thing here.

Please, with our sincerest thanks.

(pensive music)
(baby cooing)

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

It's not a donation, Lila.

It could look like we're
selling babies for profit.

It's against the law.

- Whose law?

The law that's persecuting
us in the courts

for trying to send Daisy
back to her family?

The law that's forcing us to
hire lawyers we can ill afford?

- We don't know who these people are.

- (sighs) What guarantee do we have

when we send any child out into the world?

People with money have
got to be able to give

a child a better life than
it'll ever get 'round here.

- We've gotta put our faith
and trust in God, Lila.

- And in our deed and in
theirs, God has sent them to us.

Will, we have to defend our mission,

and the Lord helps those
who help themselves.

(solemn music)

(pensive music)

- [Crown Attorney] And so Miss
Thomas, you told the Young's

that as your baby had died,

you desperately wanted to return home?

- Yes, Sir.

But they wouldn't let me leave.

They forced me to come
with them to Halifax.

On the way she told me not to mention

that the baby had died.

(pensive music)

I just wanted to go home to my mom.

I was scared.

They kept me there against my will.

- Wasn't it the girl who told you

that the child was still alive?

- No.

I never spoke two words to her.

It was Mr. and Mrs. Young.

I'm not sure which.

- Well, then how can you be
sure of what they actually said?

- No, I'm sure.

I asked them if they
tried to adopt the baby

and they said that they still
had it and that it was well.

- On the charge of
defrauding Jordy Macdonald

of the city of Halifax
by using false pretenses,

we find the defendants guilty.

(court attendees chattering)

- I set the fine at
$500 or 30 days in jail.

(gavel bangs)

- [Woman] What she did.

- [Man] It's ridiculous.

- [Woman] Terrible.

I know.

(court attendees chattering)

- Well, I must say everyone 'round here

is shocked at the lengths
they'll go to, Lila.

- Well, the jury sided with Davis,

but the judge was on our side.

He only gave us a fine of $500.

- I guess that's the kind of
government we put into power.

Wanna control the little
money you bring in here.

- Well, we don't have to
stand for it do we, Hank?

- [Hank] Maybe you ought
to run for politics, Lila.

(Lila chuckles)

- A lousy $500 fine.

I mean, what is that?

We got the conviction

and they're thumbing their noses at us.

- I'm sure they've learned a lesson.

- A lesson.

Look, Frank, look, she's
advertising infants for adoption.

- I am already being
accused by my constituents

of picking on Lila Young.

You should read my mail sometime.

- Look, you gotta revoke their license.

- I don't have to do anything.

- Look, please take a look at the reforms

and then consider your view.
- I know your views

on the matter.

- You have to revoke their license, Frank.

- Don't push me on this.

(door latches)

(solemn music)

- Oh yes, of course we're fully licensed

by the Province of Nova Scotia, now.

They prefer to ignore us,

but they've been forced to recognize

the important social service we provide.

Thank you, Iris.

(baby cooing)
(solemn music)

Of course we could never
undertake our mission without

the generous support of
couples like yourselves.

- Oh, is that a smile?

- Yeah, it looks it.

(all chuckling)

- [Clayton] Isn't that
what this is all about?

- This makes every
moment that we've waited

for this all seem worthwhile.

- She is so beautiful.

You'll never know how much
this baby will be loved.

- Will, the Kellerman's might enjoy seeing

the plans for the new edition.

- This expansion has been a
dream of ours for a long time.

(pensive music)

In these troubled days, there
were so many young girls

in need of refuge and care,

and it's contributions like yours

that'll make all this possible.

54 rooms, 14 bathrooms.

We're going to have the
latest laboratory facilities,

sterilization equipment, the
highest standards of hygiene.

(workers chattering)

- [Man] You got it?

- [Man] Yeah, here it goes.

(workers chattering)

- Just give me a minute.

Have a safe trip home.

- They seem like awful good people.

She said she'd tell all
her friends about us.

- As God and His judgment sees fit, Iris.

(workers chattering)

This place'll be bigger and more important

than those little government men

with their little government minds.

They'll never dare to come after us again.

(solemn music)

(brakes squealing)

(solemn music)

- This humble dwelling
was destined to become

a mighty factor in the future health

and happiness of generations
of Canadian infants.

Overcoming enormous obstacles,

Lila and William Young pioneered
the work of child welfare,

developing strong, healthy babies

with delightful surroundings
for mother and child.

(onlookers applauding)

- Senator.

- Ah.

(onlookers chattering)

(onlookers applauding)

- Reverend Beggs?

Excuse me.

Glad you could come.

- [Reverend Beggs] My pleasure.

- Will and I want you to have this,

a gift for your own building fund.

- Lila, this is more than generous.

- Well, we know our duty.

After all, we do have a tidy
little business here now.

- You want some ice cream sweetie?

- You want down?

Yeah, okay.

Let go, go with daddy.

(solemn music)

- I wonder if you happen to
remember this little lady?

- I'll say so.

I remember the day you were born.

- And now it's tickle time, tickle time,

tickle, tickle, tickle (laughs).

(solemn music)

- Hello there, sweetie pie.

- Why, thank you.

(solemn music)

Is there a show?

- Iris?

Hurry up.

The newspaper wants to take a picture

and they won't wait for ya.

(babies crying)
(solemn music)

Come on, Iris, smile.

- [Photographer] Big
smiles everyone, come on.

We want to say nothing but happy babies,

nothing but happy babies.

(babies crying)
(shutter clicks)

- (chuckles) Well, I'm
too young to retire.

You'll see a Davis on another ballot yet.

- [Man] You got my vote, Frank.

- How are you folks doing?
- [Man] Good, good.

Hello, Frank.
- Good to see ya.

- How are ya?

- [Man] Good work, Frank.

- Hello, Frank.

The place looks pretty impressive

from the outside doesn't it?

The inside of course is anybody's guess.

- I'm obligated to be here, Russell.

I'm surprised to see you.

Hey, I can play Lila Young's test of guts.

She has the gall to invite
me here, I wouldn't miss it.

(Frank chuckles)
(pensive music)

- You can't abide seeing her
get the upper hand can you?

- Tell me something, Frank,

where do you think that all
this money's coming from here?

- Obviously the war is creating a boom

in more than the Halifax economy.

- Uh huh, and how many
babies do you figure

she's shunting into cribs and
selling like puppies then?

I mean, take a look around.

She's taking in what?

Thousands of dollars here.

And it's not all strictly
from the girl's fees is it?

- How do you explain that half
the county is supporting her?

Because she's providing a useful service.

Now don't waste your energy on this, Russ.

- You never saw Eva Nyforth and her baby.

I can't shake that image, Frank.

And how many other babies are there

that we know nothing about?

Look, Sir, all I'm asking
you for are the tools.

You give me the R.C.M.P.
and the medical examiners,

and I'll get you the evidence.

- Russ, stop taking this so personally.

- (chuckles) I'm prepared to go

to the Premier on this if I have to.

- The local community is behind her 100%.

Now, I've already stuck my neck out

in promising to strengthen
your new adoption laws.

Those changes are as far as I'm prepared

to go at the present time.

Patience is a virtue.

And if you go behind my back,

you're out of a job.

(pensive music)

Hello gentlemen.

- The gall of Frank Davis trying

to drum up votes on our lawn.

It's his government approvals
and probationary periods

that our perspective parents
will never stand for.

- They'll go someplace else if they have

to wait another year to adopt.

- Yeah.

- Every year it's a new set
of rules and regulations.

- As head of the Board of Trade,

I'd like to remind you that with

the war on and the legitimate
baby boom around Halifax,

this home brought in a staggering $50.000

this past year alone into
our local economy gentlemen.

- We've carried out
God's work successfully

for 12 years with very simple rules.

- And Frank Davis doesn't
give a Tinker's damn

about the girls or our business.

He's just interested in
covering his political backside.

- Well, you know my sentiments, Lila,

My granddaughter is a
testament to the fruits

of your kindness and good works.

The Premier is a reasonable man.

Let me take care of Frank Davis.

- I've got a better idea.

Let's see to it that
Davis never holds office

in this writing again.

(Senator chuckles)

- Hear hear.

(pensive music)

And dictatorship.

Defeat Davis.

Restore democracy.

Make voting day a victory
day over Frank Davis!

(audience applauding)

- [Protestors] Hear hear!

- The voters in this county have

a solemn responsibility come election day.

There is a war being fought in
Europe against dictatorship.

But we have a Hitler
right here in Nova Scotia!

- [Protestors] Hear hear, hear hear!

- And it appears a Mrs. Goebbels

has also come to Nova Scotia,

who evidently believes that if the truth

is misrepresented often enough,

it will eventually be believed.

Well, I maintain that the
voters of this province

are too intelligent to fall
for this campaign of slander.

- They want to control our operations

to prevent undesirables

from exploiting illegitimate children.

- [Woman] Oh, that's true.

- I can only imagine why,

since the son of the present
Public Health Minister

is rumored to have fathered
a child born in our home.

He just wants to make darn
sure he has some say over

the perspective parents
of his own grandchild.

(women exclaiming)
(women applauding)

- Thank you.

We're gonna win this one, hm?

Thanks for your support.

Thank you.

- [Protestors] Hear hear.

- Russ, nail her.

I'll give you whatever you need.

Thank you.

Thanks for coming out.

I'm counting on your support.

(pensive music)

(babies crying)

- Iris (sighs).

Where are the other girls?

- They're nervous around the fluey babies.

This little guys runnin' a bad fever.

- Well, move 'em into the sickroom

and keep them away from the healthy ones.

- I can't get his temperature down, Lila.

- A good cold wash cloth
and plenty of fluids,

and don't spend all day with him

or you'll never get the others fed.

Oh, look at the time.

I have perspective parents
coming at two o'clock.

Iris, if you don't move
the sick babies away

from the healthy ones,

we'll never get this croup under control.

- But it's too much for me,

tryin' to rustle up those
girls to get their work done.

We need to hire a
professional nurse, Lila.

- All right I'll get a couple

of the capable girls up here to help you.

(door slams)

(babies crying)

(solemn music)
(crickets chirping)

- It's not like we used to be.

Mrs. McPhee and Ann.

No one cares now.

- Well, she's been awful good to us.

- I know.

I just feel bad thinkin' about

the little ones nobody wants to adopt.

If they aren't perfect or they
don't have lily white skin,

she doesn't want anybody seein' 'em.

So, put 'em in with the sick ones.

It's almost like she wants
'em to die on purpose.

- Nah, don't think that way.

- My little girl was real lucky.

She survived.

She got a good home.

(Iris sighs)

Sometimes, I wish I could hold her again,

even for a minute.

(solemn music)
(crickets chirping)

(door slams)

- [Lila] What business have you here?

- We are legally entitled
to inspect these premises.

We'll require a complete
register the containing names,

addresses and ages of all your tenants.

(babies crying)

(crib clanging)

(babies crying)

- How dare you march in here like this!

By next week, Frank Davis will be out

of office and you little
man, will be out of a job.

Please put those children down.

I don't want you upsetting them.

I said, put that baby down.

(door latches)
(solemn music)

We have the strictest (indistinct)
that must be adhered to.

- [Russell] Still here, huh?

(baby crying)

- Are doctors ever called in here, Iris?

Are you the only one of
duty for all these kids?

And when they get sick,

and they die?

Listen, if you have
any information for me,

any information at all that can help me

to protect these children,

I want you to contact me.

All right?

(crib clanging)

(solemn music)
(babies crying)

- [Radio Anchor] The
Liberal Party has swept

the provinces winning 28 of 30 seats

and Dr. Frank Roy Davis has retained

his seat in Newburgh County.

Other cabinet ministers reelected include-

(button clicks)

(pensive music)

(engine rumbling)

- It's our May, Dr. Young.

She's so close.

We were planning to
take her to the hospital

in Halifax where Lester's stationed,

but I was afraid
- You'll be all right.

- she would have the
- Take it easy.

- grandchild on the way.
- You got her?

- I'll prep her.

How are ya, May?

- [May] Oh, I'm okay.

But you better look after my Dad, huh?

(Will chuckles)

(May grunting)

- Lila, are you okay?

- May, May, stop pushing.

It's not time yet.

(May grunting)

- I can't help it.
- That's a foot ain't it?

- I know.

- What's wrong, Lila?
- Nothing's wrong.

Get me a clean towel.

- If there's somethin' wrong-

- There's nothing wrong.

Just get me the towel
and go and get William.

- [May] Jesus, I'm gonna die.

I'm gonna-
- [Lila] You're not gonna die.

You're gonna be fine.

- [Iris] Dr. Young?

(May panting)

- It's a foot limb breech.

Help me move her.

Up.
(May sobs)

I'm gonna get that foot back in.

- All right, May.

Just relax.

Now, don't push.

Don't push.

- Ready?

(May grunting)

(baby cooing)

(gentle music)

- I'm just takin' her to the nursery.

She'll be back soon.

- My baby's okay, huh?

- Well, her feet come first
and she almost got stuck,

but the Young's got her out just fine.

She's strong and healthy.

- Wrap that quilt around
her will ya, Iris?

My mom made it.

- You're real lucky to have
a little girl like this.

Try to get some sleep.

They said you lost a lotta blood.

(May sighs)

- We're deeply sorry about
your daughter's passing.

- You signed an agreement assuring us

that our little girl
was normal and healthy.

- What happens to a child after it leaves

this home can't be our responsibility,

especially after 18 months.

- A normal child's heart just
doesn't stop for no reason,

18 months or not.

- (sighs) A child is not
an ice box or a radio.

It can't come with a guarantee.

- Look, don't patronize me.

You took $10.000 from us.
- Darling, please.

Look, all we want is another baby girl.

- I'm sorry, Mrs. Kellerman,
we don't have any baby girls.

We've plenty of boys.

- What about this one?

- [Lila] No, you can have
the next available girl.

- Darling, come here, look.

(Mrs. Kellerman gasps)

- That baby is not up for adoption.

- Mrs. Young.

- Look, I am not one of your local yokels

who you think you can just elbow around.

We want this baby.

I won't think twice about going
to the papers and the radio.

- Why don't you wait downstairs,

give me a chance to talk to Mrs. Young.

I am certain that we'll come
to some kind of arrangement.

I'll talk privately.

- [Mr. Kellerman] Yeah, well, you better.

- That's better.

(pensive music)

- [Will] The peril of our souls.

- [Clayton] Please.

Look, spare me this righteous indignation.

(pensive music)

Give them exactly what they want.

This man is not kidding
about going to the papers.

- I'm sure once Mrs. Kellerman realizes

that the mother is married-

- She fully intends on keeping her baby.

- So tell her it died.

- Don't be ridiculous.

- You better think long and hard about

how many deals I've swung for you now.

How many hundreds of thousands of dollars

I have funneled into
those pockets of yours.

Just give them that God damn baby.

- We will do no such thing.

- I'm telling you right now,

if this thing comes
crashing down around me,

I'll use every legal tool
I have to bury both of ya.

Excuse me.

(babies crying)

(door slams)

(pensive music)
(engine rumbling)

- I wouldn't give a dog I
like to people like that.

Acted like they were
buying a late model car.

Bad publicity is bad for them, too.

Oliver's just trying to threaten us.

Oh Lord, what are we doing?

Lord, help us.

What are we doing, Lila?

This was never meant to be a business.

I'm afraid.

I'm afraid for our own family.

Let's get out.

- People like that just don't go away.

- Our answer has always
been in prayer, Lila.

- You pray, for both of us.

(pensive music)

(door slams)

(dramatic music)

(engine rumbling)

- Lila, Mrs. Fell is here.

- Oh.

- Mrs. Young, this is
May's husband, Lester.

- I tried to get here sooner.

What happened?

- It was a very traumatic delivery for May

and the baby was very, very weak.

- She know the baby's dead yet?

- I told her this morning.

Naturally she was upset.

I had to give her a sedative.

- I'll take you up to
see her now if you like?

- Yeah, yeah.

Can I see my daughter?

- Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Wilson.

She's not fit for viewing.

William and I will deliver the body

in an appropriate manner for burial.

It'll be less upsetting that way.

(solemn music)

(doors latching)

(solemn music)

(William sighs)

Will?

- Lila, please, my heart's
not in this anymore.

- Do you want me to carry
the box 'cause I will?

(pensive music)

- Come on.

- It's not my baby.

Why aren't you listening to me?

It's not my baby.

(mourners chattering murmuring)

- I wanna see my daughter.

(Lila sighs)

- I know how difficult this
is for you, Mr. Wilson,

but I cannot allow the
coffin to be opened.

- I need to put my wife's mind at rest.

- But the body has turned black.

- [Woman] Oh!

- [Woman] Oh, dear.

- Most-
- Totally.

- [Woman] This is absolutely terrible.

Oh dear.

- If the body has turned black,

then it's God's will we not see it.

- [May] It's not my baby.

- Take May home, Lester.

- Come on.

Everyone's upset, come on.

- [Lester] Come on.

(solemn music)

(Iris sobs)
(pensive music)

- I know what I heard.

Those people wanted a girl baby

and May's was the only
healthy one in the nursery.

- You're just upset.

How could she make a mistake like that?

- That's what I'm saying.

Maybe it wasn't.

- Wasn't what?

- A mistake.

Maybe it wasn't a mistake (sighs).

(pensive music)
(crickets chirping)

(children laughing)

- What's this all about Reverend?

- Please, both of you have a seat.

We've had some serious charges leveled

at you by our members.

- Charges?

- And there are mounting rumors

in the community about the Wilson baby.

- So now we're to be persecuted

by our own church, I suppose?

- Lila, for once listen to something

besides the sound of your own voice.

- What are you doing here?

- Representing the family.

This is an embarrassment for all of us.

- What is going on?

- We have received letters with charges

that impugn your mortal souls.

- There's not a shred of truth in this.

- Can you swear before God, Lila?

Otherwise, confess your
sin and seek forgiveness.

- It's about tithing isn't it?

You want more money.

- It has nothing to do with the tithe.

It is a blatant disregard for life

and the sale of life
that puts your standing

as members under scrutiny.

(paper rustling)

Then the church will
have no choice but one.

Disfellowship.

You'll be obliged to leave.

- Lila, I'm a good Christian.

And so are you.

- How dare you, Will!

I stand here before God and know

in my heart I've done nothing wrong.

(birds chirping)

(drawer sliding)

What are you doing?

- Nothing.

(baby crying)

- You're looking in the right place.

Those are the old files.

(solemn music)

- What happened to May Wilson's baby?

- It died.

- Of what?

- It stopped breathing.

You knew it was having a hard time.

- That's not true.

- I beg your pardon?

- I heard you talking to that Mr. Oliver,

and the Kellerman's.

- I made our position quite clear

to Mr. Oliver at that time.

- You think I'm stupid,
that I really don't know.

I know about you.

- Get out of here, right now.

- You don't care about
the girls or the babies.

You liar!

You took my baby from me.

Maybe I couldn't have
given her a good home,

but what was wrong with May Wilson's home?

You don't have the
right to do that to her.

You just don't have that right.

(solemn music)

- Iris.

Don't you dare walk away from
me when I'm talking to you.

Iris!

- My name is Maureen.

- Iris?

(solemn music)

Iris?

Iris?

(solemn music)
(engine rumbling)

Iris?

Hank, would you make up the order?

(engine rumbling)

(pensive music)

(engine rumbling)
(pensive music)

(brakes squealing)
(pensive music)

Will!

What's going on?

(pensive music)

This is trespassing!

Get out, get out!

Out!
- Mrs. Young.

Based on evidence given to us
by a Miss Maureen Donnelley,

I have a warrant for this information.

- (gasps) You!

You never gave a damn about the girls.

What did you ever do but shuffle paper

and legislate away your guilt?

- I am happy to inform you

that your license has been revoked.

Don't bother reapplying.

- I have safely delivered

nearly 900 babies on these premises!

- Yes and you traded them like a commodity

or buried them when it suited you.

- Yes!

Yes, I buried them when it had to be done.

- The pedaling of illegitimate babies

in the province of Nova Scotia is over.

- No!

How dare you try and stop me!

I delivered 900!

(indistinct)

- [Russell] With the closing of the home,

the Young's filed for bankruptcy

and eventually left Nova Scotia.

Following her husband's death,

Lila Young returned to teach school

in nearby Fox Point
where she died in 1969.

She was buried in a cemetery
near an overgrown field

where the hundreds of infants who died

at the home lie hidden in unmarked graves.

Of the babies who survived,

many have spent years searching
for clues to their past.

However, few of their
questions will ever be answered

as all the records disappeared

when the home was destroyed

by vandalism and by fire in 1962.

Many of the mothers who
gave up their babies

for adoption have also been haunted,

never knowing whether
the children were sold

to wealthy families or neglected,

and buried in wooden butterboxes.

(solemn music)