Baby Girl Scott (1987) - full transcript

Ah, gee, we're getting
our Christmas baby.

We have a little girl.

Neil, I'm sorry,

birth weight's 560 grams--
1 pound 4 ounces.

A 1 pound 4 ounce baby?

We've saved them
smaller than that.

Some are on these
walls.

Woman: This is
a remarkable place.

Your baby could not be
in a better equipped hospital.

I'm so scared, Neil.

We're trying
to stabilize her tonight.



We'll take her into surgery
sometime tomorrow.

How?
How can you?

Are you trying
to prolong life

just to prove that
you can do it?

- You're way off base.
- What kind of life
is she gonna have, anyway?

You're afraid
she won't be perfect.

Oh, come on, lay off.

If it's not a perfect baby,
you don't want it!

( sobs ) Oh, God.

What chance does my baby have?

( theme music playing )

Ahh.

It's not--
it's not, it's...

No, it's out of line.



It's kind of offbeat,
it's...

Yeah, it kind of
has a life of its own.

You know, you don't want just
a flat apricot.

It's a color.
I've seen it.

More of
a full body bouquet.

- What? What?
- Shush. ( laughing )

It's-- it's those barns
we saw camping out in Montana.

- They were brown.
- Sure, they're brown

because it's the sky
behind the barns,

those apricot dawns!

Apricot dawns behind
the barns of Montana.

I sing the melody.
You sing the harmony.

( all laughing )

Honey, I know, it's like
the flush on a virgin's cheek.

Yeah, not the color
of your cheeks.

( all laughing )

No, I can't listen to this.
No, no more, please, I can't.

Please, no.

Do it, do it,
do it, do it!

( classical music playing )

Look at this room.

Our baby's gonna sleep
in this room.

Right, if we ever finish it.

( giggles )
Maybe we shouldn't.

You know, kind of wait and see
what it's personality is.

One baby...

coming up...

awaiting personality.

Uh, boy or girl?

That's my little secret.

It looks like a puppet.
( laughs )

A puppet, uh?

( chuckles )

Personality is just luck.

Discipline is what counts.

- You?
- Get it cracking right
out of the box.

Okay, come on,
let's see it. Practice.

You're gonna be mush.

There's a school,
you know, that says

that this is the time
that they pick things up.

Why do you think
we're listening to Mozart?

How did we do this?

I don't know,
lunch a couple of times.

- Things got out of hand.
- ( laughs )

The furniture is ordered,
my job's taken care of.

Lamaze classes start Friday.

Oh, God, I always thought
natural childbirth meant

you didn't have
to wear makeup.

I'm not having any unskilled
labor in there with me, buddy.

I'll be there with my little
whistle and my pillow.

( both laughing )

Oh, gee, we're getting
a Christmas baby.

You look so beautiful.

Six months pregnant
and I look beautiful?

I look like a whale.
( giggles )

My beautiful whale.

( sighs )

That sigh was a ten.

I'm gonna lose
a major account

if I don't come up with
something by tomorrow morning.

- Whose?
- Centrex Corporation.

We ran out of duck on a flight
to Houston last week.

Their senior vice president
didn't get any.

He said he's never gonna
fly our airline again.

You made that up.

Ah, nope.
I don't think so.

Powerless in the grip
of circumstances.

Yes, but I take it as
a personal challenge.

Hang on, maternity leave
is in seven weeks.

( groans )

- Are you doing that
on purpose?
- No.

- You're hard as a brick.
- Uh-huh.

What is it?

I don't know.

- It's stopping, right?
- Yeah.

Well, what
was all that about?

- Premature contractions.
- You think?

It's nothing
to worry about.

He's a kicker.

Wendy?

Neil.

Honey, you in there?

Call Dr. Kenderly.

( siren wails )

A miscarriage.
It's a miscarriage!

How far along is she?

She's at six months.

This is Dr. Yoshi
in Emergency.

We have a lady

and she's had a a sudden
third trimester bleed.

- Dr. Kenderly's patient?
- Yes.

Get her up
to Labor and Delivery.

( beeping )

It moved.
I felt it move.

Baby's chugging along.

What's happened?

Is it painful here...
to the touch?

Tender.

- Crampy?
- A little.

- Feel like contractions?
- It did.

- I think.
- Now?

No.

Just a sudden gush of bleeding
and the pains went away?

- And the bleeding stopped?
- Mm-hmm.

We've got a category

that we call
third trimester bleeding.

You're just going onto it.

You're six months along.

There are causes for this that
don't necessarily mean

there's going to be
big trouble.

If the bleeding stops,
baby's fine, mom's fine,

pregnancy continues.

And that's what
we're hoping.

But you may be trying
to have an abruption.

Abruption?

When the placenta separates
from the uterus prematurely.

Now we're going
to observe you here

in the labor and delivery
area tonight

until we're sure
what's going on,

until you stabilized.

Either you'll get better
and quit bleeding

or we'll have to deliver you.

What are the odds?

I just can't give you any odds
at this time.

Let's hold on
to good thoughts.

I'm right here on the floor
if you want me.

( beeping )

You two have something
private going on?

Well, you know,
fathers and daughters...

It's a girl.

- No doubts?
- No doubts.

An apricot room
and a pink baby.

I feel I already know her.

I do know her.
Neil...

Honey, nothing is gonna
happen to this baby.

Doctors always give you
the worst case.

It's a built-in mechanism.
They can't help it.

I'll take a leave from my job.
It's two months early,

but we have those CDs,
we'll be all right.

- Of course we will.
- I'll call my mother.

She'll come down.

She'll help you run the house.
I'll stay in bed.

I won't do anything
I'm not supposed to do.

I won't read any upsetting
romantic novels.

I'll eat yogurt.

Please, just one month,
one more month.

They make it sometimes if
they get to seven months.

Seven months,
what are you talking about?

We're gonna go the whole way
with this.

( sighs )
I didn't even get a chance

to wear that new maternity
dress you bought.

All the more reason.

( laughs )

Do not open until Christmas.

( both laughing )

( alarm buzzing )

No.

Notify county,

- we need a transport team
standing by.
- What's going on?

She's filling with blood.

She can go into shock.
We're gonna section.

- Well, I want to be there.
- I don't think that's wise.

Well, I want to be
with my wife.

She's going to be
under anesthetic.

- It's going to be
a difficult C.
- Why can't I just--

I'll tell you exactly what's
happened as soon as I know.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Okay, everybody,
let's go as fast as we can.

How we doing?

Scared.

We're gonna relax you
a little.

Now, Wendy,
what I'd like you to do

is start counting down
from ten, please.

- Now?
- Yes, please.

Ten, nine...

- eight...
- That's good.

- seven.
- I think she's out.

Okay, let's go.

Woman on PA: Dr. Longmire.
Dr. Longmire to surgery.

We have a little girl.

( sirens wailing )

- Get it, Jack.
- Here we go.

Woman: We got to hurry.

Man: Coming through.

Excuse us.

- Neil, I'm sorry.
- Trouble?

She was born
with Apgar score of two,

which is dreadful.

She had no suck,
no swallow, no gag,

no reflexes, no muscle tone,
no movement.

Her heartbeat's ragged.

Birth weight is 560 grams

- Grams?
- 1 pound, 4 ounces.

1 pound, 4 ounces.

( sighs )
Well, what can you do?

( sighs )

The immediate job
is to protect the brain

and nervous system,
try to fight infection.

We've sent her to County.

They have facilities,
can do things there

we can't possibly.

They'll evaluate her.

She will probably
not live very long.

We should be grateful
for catastrophes

that didn't occur.

Wendy's in no danger.

She can have another child.

She's going to be well.

( classical music playing )

( music stops )

Miss?

Mr. Scott?
Hello, I'm Jean Gelson.

I'm with social services.

Let me help you
with this.

How's your wife?

She's, uh...

pretty beaten up.

I understand.

I know how you must feel

coming to see a baby
who's so sick.

It has to be very upsetting.

These children
are so special.

When I heard you were here,

I was up on the fourth floor
playing with a little girl

who's about 4 years old.

She came through this
very unit four years ago.

She was just here having
her tonsils out

and she was getting ready
to go home today.

She gave me
the biggest hug.

You get that sort of thing.

This is a remarkable place.

Some wonderful things
happen here.

Your baby could not be in
a better equipped hospital.

Could you excuse us, please?
Thank you.

Here she is.

It's very difficult when
you first see a preemie,

especially when you have this
Gerber thing in your mind

and you come in here
and see all these

French-fry-warmer arrangements
and all those wires and tubes.

What's happening to her?

Okay.

She's under the blue lights

because of the high bilirubin
level in her blood cells

and jaundice.

She's getting fed
a mixture of antibiotics

directly through
the umbilical opening

to get a jump on infection
if it develops.

God. Why?

Mr. Scott,
I'm not gonna lie to you.

She's on the edge.

She has Hyaline
membrane disease,

respiratory distress syndrome.

Lungs won't inflate
on their own,

She's too young.

The only standard treatment
is the use of the respirator,

which has mixed success.

But if that little lady
gives us half a chance...

What?
A 1 pound, 4 ounce baby?

We've saved them
smaller than that.

Some of them
are on these walls.

But my wife's obstetrician,

I was told...

He-- she has
almost no chance.

If that's what he said,

if you're quoting him
accurately,

I'd have to say that man
is living in the wrong century.

He could very well respond
to a month making rounds

in this unit.

The man does not know
what can be done.

I'm not going to tell you
this isn't intense.

We can't tell much till
the first 12 hours are up.

And if they get over that,
they've got three, four days.

Most of our babies who make it,
make it in the first 48 hours.

Once you get 48,
72 hours

and you don't have
a impending lethality

you've got a real high chance
of making it.

We're talking 90% plus,
okay?

How can I help?

I've got to get information.
There's gonna be decisions.

Mrs. Gelson is very good
at pinpointing problems

that mean a lot
to you and your wife

when she's well enough
to visit or your family.

We don't work in a vacuum.

Coffee with her.
Use her offices any time.

That's what
we're all about here.

( phone ringing )

Sign, please,
both places.

What am I signing?

Assignment of insurance
to hospital

with agreement to pay
anything not covered

and consent to standard
medical procedures.

Standard procedures,
meaning?

Which may include but are not
limited to laboratory, x-ray,

medical and surgical
treatment under general

and special instructions of
infant's physician or surgeon.

I'll just read this.

( clears throat )

( phone ringing )

It's not a very good picture.

It's wonderful.

I think she's wonderful.

I called your mother.

Honey, you're in a state
of grace now.

I can take care of
that kind of thing.

What did she say?

They're praying.

- We've got to name her.
- All right.

Katy?
My grandmother's name.

- Sure.
- Katy Michele, you like it?

Katy Michele.

What she sound like?

I didn't hear her.

Oh, God,
I'll do anything.

I'll be a perfect person.
I'll be perfect parent.

Please,
give me the chance.

Man: You put those
around the back.

Why the hell didn't
you call me?

At 3:00
in the morning?

Damn right, 3:00
in the morning.

You know I'd have
been down there.

I know you would.

I called Wendy's mother.

What did she say?

She wants to know
what we did wrong.

Oh, noble thinking,
that really helps.

You had a premature child.
It happens.

- Yeah.
- How's Wendy?

( sighs )
They give you this photograph.

It's a Polaroid
but it's blurred.

You can't see
the wires and tubes.

They have the baby
patched into this kind

of central
mechanical mother,

all pumps
and compressors.

You don't see any of that.

I got to get
that damn fan fixed.

Oh, don't worry about it.

Anyway,
you have this photograph,

and it's fuzzy because this
guy's been taking pictures

for years decides that
it's nicer for the mother

if he just jiggles
his hand a little bit

when it hits the shutter.

So the idea she gets is that
her baby's got fingernails

and hair and this
little pink face,

crying out for her milk.

How are you gonna deal
with that one?

I'm not dealing with anything
much right now.

Well,
you've got the best.

I hear what
they can pull off...

Well, that's another thing.

I met her doctor
and we don't connect.

He makes you feel like
you're nonexistent.

Right.

But he seems to think
she's got a pretty good chance.

Well, hell, yes.

Listen, Dave...

- for the next couple days--
- You get out of here.

You go home
and you get some sleep.

Neil, I'm here.
You know that.

- Yeah.
- Go on.

Thanks.

Dave: It'll turn out.
We got guys to the moon.

( phone ringing )

Hello.

Who?

When?

I'll be right there.

Woman on PA:
Dr. Brayer, 7283.

Dr. Brayer, 7283.

I'm here to see Dr. Nelman.

My name is Neil Scott.

- I'm Dr. Nelman.
- What's happened?

Come over here.

- Thanks for coming in
the middle of the night.
- What's happened?

Um, your baby almost went into
failure during the night.

( sighs ) Why?

Well, even with the respirator
supplying a high percentage

of oxygen,
she can barely breathe.

We had to boost
the breathing rate

because her blood gases
were low,

but the pressure

from the respirator
collapsed the lung.

Oh, my God.

We had to suction off the air
that got between the chest

and the lung in order to allow
the lung to re-inflate.

You're gonna see
a new tube in her chest.

I didn't want you to walk
in there and not understand.

Well, can't you take her
off the respirator?

No, her lungs
are too immature.

She couldn't possibly
survive without it.

Wait a minute,

if you take my baby off
the respirator, she can die,

but if you leave her on,
it can kill her.

Well, sometimes it's a means
of keeping an infant alive.

But the procedure is a real
assault on the baby's system.

I have to tell you,

there's a good chance
it's gonna happen again.

We were...

We were given
every indication that...

if we get past
the first 48 hours...

In two years of working
in Neonatal Intensive Care,

I don't remember ever seeing
a baby with lungs so poor.

I'm surprised that
wasn't conveyed to you.

My wife...

You have a desperately
sick baby, Mr. Scott.

Come on, sugar,
just another half CC.

( sighs )

I don't know if
we're gonna get this.

The needle's larger
than her vein.

Let's finish this later.

Does baby girl Scott
have a name yet?

Katy Michele.

I'll go have
a name tag made.

( dramatic music playing )

( tires screech
and horn honks )

- Are you blind?
- I'm sorry.

You could have
killed somebody.

I wasn't paying attention.
I'm sorry.

Well, if you can't pay attention
get away from the wheel.

- My mind was...
- You know, this is
just what we need,

another stupid driver.

Get out and say that.

Come on, you want
to have it out?

- Let's do it right here.
- ( tires squealing )

Come on,
get out here!

What's the matter with you?
Come on back, God damn it!

( crying )
Oh, God.

Do you want to take
David and Robin's flowers?

- Uh, there too far gone.
- Yep.

Why can't we just go?

We have to wait for someone
to take you.

My milk.

- Hi.
- Here we go.

- Okay?
- Yeah.

Okay, when you get there

just give it to one
of the nurses.

- Got it?
- Yeah.

How do get a license
to drive one of these things?

( chuckles )
You got to join the staff.

I think I already have.

- Okay?
- Jennie?

- Yeah?
- Thanks.

It's gonna be fine,
Mrs. Scott.

- Good-bye, Jennie.
- Good luck, Mr. Scott.

( baby cooing )

( elevator bell rings )

Man: I'll get it, honey.

( baby crying )

People just don't know
what to say yet.

They don't know
what to send.

I don't care.
Let's go.

Honey, this isn't gonna be
what you think it is.

I just want to see her.

Come on, let's go.

Woman on PA: Mrs. Gelson
in ICU.

Mrs. Gelson in ICU.

Mrs. Gelson:
Good morning, Mr. Scott.

Mrs. Scott.

- Hello, I'm Jean,
Jean Gelson.
- How do you do?

Excuse me, I just need
to put on a gown, too.

Did you just come over
from the hospital?

- Yes.
- Well, I think
that's wonderful.

You know, interaction
between parent and child

is something
we just can't provide.

To be able
to interact with her

and be a family member...

- Can I see her?
- Sure.

This way.

Cathy, I'd like you to meet
Mr. and Mrs. Scott.

- Yes, we've already met.
- Good morning.

Hello,
it's nice to meet you.

- Come to see our
little fighter.
- Oh, yeah.

These nurses, all the personnel
at this hospital, are terrific.

Oh, I brought this.
It's--well, you know--

We'll take
very good care of it.

We encourage our mothers
to bring in their milk.

It supports
the bonding process.

- Where is she?
- She's right down here.

Here's a little fellow,

weighed 2 1/2 pounds
when he was born,

not much more than yours.

He goes home next week.

I want to see mine.

It's important that you realize
the physiological effect

that you have on your newborn.

That's not often thought of.

Most people they tend
to think of their baby

as not really being functional
until it reaches term

- and that's--
- Look, can we just
do this later?

I just want to see my baby.

You must understand,
Mrs. Scott,

- one's first view of
their baby--
- Please.

Sure.

( dramatic music playing )

Oh, my God.

Oh, God.
( crying )

I understand
what you're feeling.

What are they doing to her?

I want to talk
to the doctors.

- I don't think
that's a good idea.
- Now!

I want to see them right now.

( moaning )

Man:
I'm sorry we're late.

Dr. Radburn,
I think you've met.

How are you, doctor?

Mr. Scott,
good to see you again.

- And this is Mrs. Scott.
- Mrs. Scott.

- And Dr. Nelman.
- Hi, this is my wife, Wendy.

- It's nice to meet you,
Mrs. Scott.
- Just be comfortable.

Please be seated.

How are you feeling?

Rough morning?

Well, let me
tell you something, mother.

A premature baby is the hardest
thing to love instantaneously.

And every mother has the fear
of being judged, condemned,

which is totally misplaced,
though understandable.

Okay?

I understand you
have some questions.

Neil:
I'm not ungrateful

and I'm not trying to
put problems in your way.

We don't stand on ceremony here.

I'm afraid for our baby.

I'm afraid for us.

I just want to know
what's happening?

All I'm getting
is contradictions.

Radburn:
Your baby is critically ill.

I've never said anything else.

She's way below birth weight

and still at high
oxygen setting.

Neil: But you said it
with an inference

- that you were hopeful.
- We're always hopeful.

Well, that's not what
I get from Dr. Nelman.

What's he alluding to?

The pneumothorax.

Oh, that was a misreading.

You mean he's wrong?

She doesn't have the worst
lungs he's seen here

in the last two years?

- What is it you're asking?
- I just want the truth.

I want to know what
her chances are.

Is there gonna
be more damage?

I know she's on 100% oxygen.

I read what that can do
to lungs like hers.

Where did you get that figure?

It can almost destroy her.
It did almost destroy her.

She's got blood gasses
of 7.2.

Below that,
life is impossible.

Who's giving him those figures?

It's on her chart!

And I did some research
on my own.

We'll call you if there's
something to worry about.

Something we think
you should know.

Please...

I just want to know what's
going on with our baby.

Is she beyond all this stuff
and we're not being told?

What is your profession,
Mr. Scott?

I wouldn't attempt to tell you
anything about your business.

I wouldn't be qualified.

You're not telling us
anything about anything!

Why?!

Are you trying to prolong life

just to prove
that you can do it?!

- Wendy: Neil.
- You're way off base.

What kind of life
is she gonna have anyway?

Wendy: Neil!

Look, he hasn't given us
one straight answer.

( sighs )

Where are you?

Nowhere.

Right here...

thinking.

About what?

Never mind.

Okay.

You certainly asked them
enough questions.

Look, if we could
just relax a little.

Don't talk to me like that.

Don't talk to me
like you talked to them.

- Who?
- The doctors.

Nothing but questions
and criticism.

You think that's
what I was doing?

Why did you ask him if there
was going to be damage?

- That's a terrible thing--
- It was a mistake.

- I never should have.
- Why not?

- It's what you wanted.
- I wanted the truth.

- Someone had to say something.
- He did. He told you.

- What?
- You heard him.

I know what Dr. Kenderly said.
He denied it.

I know what Dr. Nelman said.
He won't admit it.

You sounded like you
were blaming him.

What more was
he supposed to say?

I'm not blaming anyone.

This wasn't anyone's fault.
I know that.

You don't believe that.

You say it,
but you don't believe it.

I'm not even talking
about blame. Blame?

I don't want to hear this.

All I meant is,
what the hell are we in for?

I know what you meant.

You're afraid
she won't be perfect.

Oh, come on, I'm not afraid
of any such thing.

That there will be
something wrong,

that she won't go to Harvard
and be a Homecoming Queen.

Oh, come on, lay off.

If it's not a perfect baby
you don't want it!

Okay, you're right.
I am afraid.

There, you see?!

I'm afraid that
I'll start to love her

and then she'll be gone.

Don't then.

Wendy.

Wendy.

Don't hate me, please.

Hate you?

I'm sorry.

How could I hate you?

Why me?
Why our baby?

I should be sitting here
with her inside me.

She's our child.
We're her parents.

It doesn't feel like
my child.

- I've never even held her.
- Come here.

I'm so scared, Neil.

I ran from her.

I ran from my own baby.

We're both scared.

But we haven't done
anything wrong.

There's no judgment.

There's no blame.

Whatever happens.

( horn honks )

Wendy: No, mom, I don't think
it'd be a good idea

for you
to come down right now.

Well, for one thing,
there's not much you can do.

Maybe in a couple of months
when she's home from the...

No, I don't think our moving
when I was three months along

had anything to do with it.

I mean the...

I don't believe this.

I'm 32 years old
and my mother is still trying

to tell me how
to run my life.

- ( horn hon ) s
- Look, I've got to go.

There's somebody here for me.

Yeah. Yes, I do, too.

Yes, tell him I do, too.

Okay, bye.

Are you okay?

My mother.

What does that mean?

I was her only baby

and she always wanted
to have another.

( gurgles )

Oh no, I don't mean that.
That's not fair.

Does it matter?

Yeah, everything seems to
at the moment.

I can't explain it.

I went after Neil last night.

Welcome to marriage.

Well, we don't do that
to each other.

Oh?
Everybody else does.

I spent my entire
pregnancy thinking

of a thousand and one
horrible things

that could happen.

We all do, come on.

But when it did,
I could believe it.

I can't believe it.

Am I being punished
for something?

Should Neil and I have
stopped making love?

Am I too high strung...
like that?

I didn't even think David
and I should travel

when I was pregnant.

Everybody's got those thoughts.

- ( sneezes )
- Whoops.

God bless you.

I think you're gonna be
a great mother.

Your baby is gonna be fine.

How do you know?

- With an apricot nursery--
- The nursery doesn't matter.

Oh, come on, who could pass up
a start like that?

( laughs ) Oh, ow.

Listen,
come over tonight.

Okay, you haven't even been
out of the house

since the baby was born.

No party, no big deal,
just stop over.

Wear your jogging clothes.

You know, we'll send out
for some ribs.

Maybe I'll call Terry.

Terry?

Yeah, she's had this huge fight
with her new boyfriend.

She didn't tell you?

Terry would be great.

Good.

Okay, so I'll pick you up
right here at 10:45.

Yeah.

Hey...

Thanks.

See you later.

- Say bye to Wendy.
- Bye.

Boy: But why does she have
to go into the hospital?

She's gonna see her baby,
honey.

Wendy:
Let's go home.

You're kidding.

It's the questions.
I just don't feel like talking.

Honey,
It's David and Robin.

And Terry, your best friend,
Terry.

Who the hell do you think
is gonna ask questions?

Yep.

Come on.

Okay.

Okay, everybody, dig in.
It's no good tomorrow.

- Ooh.
- Take-out, huh?

How does she do it?

Well, you get to
the frozen food section

before it closes.

- Drinks, anybody, Neil?
- I'm fine.

- Wendy?
- I'll have some juice later.

We need to get her off
this hard stuff.

( thump, baby cries )

Oh, sweetie.
Are you okay?

Did you bump your head?
Did you bump your head?

Let me see.
Let me see.

Rub it.

Isn't it great
with kids?

All you have to do
is kiss it to make it well.

I think I'll get that juice.

I'm so sorry.

I didn't even hear it.

I'm sorry about you
and Hal.

Why do I always go
for guys like that?

Well, at least
I'm through with him.

And you got the next one
picked out.

No, but I'm sure
there'll be a next one.

I mean,
why lie to myself?

And why lie to you?

I don't think I ever have.

I didn't even hear it.

That's not what
I'm talking about.

We both know it.

I didn't know what to say.

That's why I never called
or came down to the hospital.

I'm...

just so ashamed.

- It's okay.
- No.

It's not.
( sighs )

It must have been a terrible
hurt and I just...

What do you say?
Congratulations?

Or do you say
I'm sorry or send flowers?

Wendy,
what are you hoping for?

- I had a baby.
- I know.

She's a person,
She's just a little person.

I want to hold her.
I want to nurse her.

I sit there in the hospital
waiting for life to happen.

What do you mean,
what am I hoping?

( dishes clanging )

You did good, kid.

Well, we got through it.

I'll say we did.

Let's finish painting
the nursery.

Yeah, we never got
around to that.

Do you like that color?

( phone rings )

It's my sweater.
I left it there.

Tell Robin just
to hold on to it

and I'll pick it up later.

Hello.

Yeah.

Okay, thanks.

Wendy...

they've been trying
to get hold of us.

They want us down there
right away.

This is a CAT scan of
a baby's normal brain.

These are the ventricles,
little spaces in the brain

where we make spinal fluid.

This is your baby.

What happened?

The capillaries which carry
the blood are very tiny

in a baby this small.

Sometimes, especially when
there's a sudden change

in blood pressure,
they can burst.

Blood seeps into the ventricles
causing what we call an IVH,

Intraventricular hemorrhage.

Now we categorize these bleeds
by grade, one through four.

One being the least severe.

So what's this one?

It's a grade four.

Oh, God.

How?

We think it has to do

with the way the baby responds
to the respirator.

Damn, that respirator again.

What appears to be happening
is that

the baby is trying
to breathe on its own

while the respirator's trying
to breathe for it,

breathing out of synchrony
may bring on the bleed.

What can you do?

Well, we insert a thin tube
called a shunt

into the side of the head
through the brain

and into the ventricle.

Now the other end
of the stunt

is passed beneath the skin
into the abdominal cavity

allowing the excess fluids
to drain.

For how long?

Well, generally the shunt is
lengthened every two years

to keep up with the growth
of the child.

Surgery every two years?

For life?

Well, some small number
do outgrow it.

But most do remain
shunt dependent.

What if you don't do it?

That's not a consideration.
She couldn't survive.

Well, can she survive with it?
Has there been damage?

Will this mean
there's gonna be more?

Why don't we talk about that
when we see where we are?

Right now, it's just
not a relevant question.

For who? This is not your baby.
This is our baby.

I want to know where
this is going.

I'm sure Dr. Radburn would be
glad to discuss it with you.

- I want to talk to Dr. Nelman.
- He's been circulated.

- What does that mean?
- Assigned to another section.

- Well, which one?
- I really don't know.

Perhaps the switchboard
can help you in the morning.

Woman on PA:
Dr. Philips, 8265.

We're trying to stabilize
her tonight.

We'll take her into surgery
sometime tomorrow.

How?
How can you?

Surgery?

Anesthesia,
how can she survive that?

We won't be using anesthesia.

What did you say?

Well, beyond a local,
there's just too much danger.

What about the pain?

Their memory
isn't formed yet.

They have no memory of pain.

No memory of pain?

I want to talk
to Dr. Radburn.

He'll be on rounds most
of the morning.

Before any surgery,
I want to see him.

Woman on PA: Dr. Philips,
8265, stat.

Of course.

What do you mean,
you can't reach Dr. Nelman?

He's a doctor,

doesn't he have a beeper
or something?

Look, we have a child
in your hospital.

She's been his patient.
This is important.

Well, who is on call?

Dr. who?
We don't even know him.

- I know what to do.
- At noon? All right.

- Neil!
- All right. I see.

No, no.
No message, thanks, no.

- What?
- Kenderly.

Let's go back to Kenderly.

Intraventricular hemorrhage.

What grade?
Did they tell you?

Four.

Grade four IVH
and a collapsed lung?

Yes.

How can I help?

Well, you try to communicate
with these people,

but they don't listen,
all you get is contradictions.

You ask for a prognosis,

they don't even acknowledge
the question.

You want to know whether
or not to let her go?

No.

I know how much
you wanted this baby,

how much you planned on it,
how much you want it still.

15 years ago
we deliver a two-,

two-and-a-half-pound
preemie,

immature lungs,
under developed physiology.

We played God.

No, we let God
play God.

Kept the baby warm,
gave it nutrition, hydration,

everything short
of assisted ventilation.

We let nature decide whether
or not it was supposed to live.

Usually, mercifully,
it didn't.

There was grief.
It ended.

The parents often went on
to have another baby.

They'd been spared the agony

of a long, slow,
horribly torturous death,

or being with the lifelong
sadness of a deformed

or badly damaged child.

And it is sorrow.

I don't care what you're
told or what you've heard.

It is, in my opinion,

a deep embittering
stressful sadness.

Ultimately, modern technical
medicine changed all that.

It became God.

And it decided
if there was a heartbeat,

an impulse,
a cranial activity

then the child was
to be preserved

no matter
the consequences

to the parents
or the children.

And in may cases with
the 2 and 3 pounders,

their work is genius.

They do save babies that would
not have lived before.

But below that,
at the weight of your child,

below 2 pounds,

they don't answer
your questions

because they don't
know the answers.

So one has to ask...

is it medicine

or is it experimentation?

There's a time to let some
of these children die.

( horn honks )

( sobbing )

Okay.

Okay.

She's had an IVH
and we're worrying.

We're worrying about
her lungs.

But we don't think
we can wait.

We're doing the shunt
this afternoon.

Are there any gains,

just one sign
that she might improve?

A response to touch...

a-a voice, anything?

Just one thing to justify this
torture she's going through.

She can die

or survive with brain damage
or other handicaps.

There are no lab tests
or printouts

that read beyond
all shadow of a doubt.

We don't want you to.

I'm sorry?

No more heroic measures.

These are not heroic measures.
They're standard procedures.

I know how hard you've worked.
We appreciate it.

We both do.
Sincerely.

But we don't
want any surgery.

The admissions papers
you signed

already contain
a consent form.

Well, we rescind it.

It is very obvious to me

that we have to do everything
in our power

and not let anyone stand
in the way

of doing the best we can
for this child.

Even if it means
getting a court order.

( sighs )

Neil: Where are we in
all of this?

I mean, who are
the parents anyway?

You must be going through hell.

Can you stop them?
That's the question.

No, I'm afraid it isn't.

I can't imagine anything more
painful or devastating

than what you're suffering,

or being made to suffer.

Right now
you're in a private hell.

Do you want a public one?

How?

Are you prepared
to argue publicly

that you want your
child to die?

Because that's what
you're gonna have to do.

Why does it have
to be public?

- I can handle that side.
- Oh, no, no, no.

You're not the one
they're gonna go after.

You've seen what the media does
with cases like this.

You're gonna be fair game,
Mrs. Scott.

And my opponent's gonna
come into that courtroom

and take every advantage of it.

He'll say, it's unnatural
not to want your baby.

It goes against
everything we know

about the instinct
of mothering.

And he'll ask you,
are you telling this court

you want these doctors
to kill your baby, Mrs. Scott?

What kind of a woman would
want such a thing?

That's what you're gonna hear
if you go to litigation.

You're gonna be on the front
page of the paper

and every night
on the 6:00 news.

You're gonna have microphones
thrust in your face

every time you open
your front door.

- Can you handle that?
- Neil.

Now hold on
just a minute.

- We're not going to do this.
- I said, just a minute.

You're hardly able to deal
with this between yourselves.

How are you going to deal
with family and friends?

Why didn't you just
finish it?

- Finish what?
- What you started up there.

I started?
What the hell did I start?

Going to court.
I hate it.

We can talk, can't we?

We can explore our options,
express an opinion.

- Does that include me?
- Let me tell you something,

I don't care if this does
make the front page.

- It's the only way that
we're gonna--
- This?

What is this?!
This is our child!

I didn't put it that way.

It doesn't mean anything to you,
those things he said up there.

- You can't just give up!
- I'm not giving up!

He said we couldn't do it!

He never said that!
He said it would be difficult!

Lawyer?
You're gonna hire a lawyer?

I want to stop them.

I want to make them
let her go.

Our baby's dying, Dave.

Well, when did they
tell you this?

They didn't.
They don't tell you anything.

They just keep on going.

Her lungs are dying.
Her brain is dying.

- And they just go on.
- Listen, listen.

You've both been wound
tight as hell over this.

I think you ought to take off
for a couple weeks.

I can't, we can't do that.

My God, Wendy's
still pumping her milk

and taking it to them.

They freeze it.

They've got a whole freezer
full of milk

that the baby's never
gonna use.

And you want to hire a lawyer?

Your wife's giving milk
and you want to pull the plug

on your own kid?

By God, Neil, how the hell
could I do that

to one of mine?

She's not like
one of yours.

She's alive.

What kind of life?

You can't make that judgment,
you're not God.

Oh, don't get me started
on God.

You can't just kill a kid

just because you didn't
get what you wanted.

She's entitled to a life,
whatever it is.

Oh, hell, Neil.

You know sometimes,
it's a crazy world.

You get a little dirt
on the window,

you can't see
the full picture.

It's the doctors who can't
see the full picture.

They only know what happens
in their world,

in their laboratory.

It's our child!

And they think
we have nothing to say

about what happens to her.

I've never felt so out of
control in my whole life.

Got to fight them, David.

Well, great,
why don't you do it?

You just make sure that it ruins
your half of the business

when it makes it news
and not mine.

Business, what are
you talking about?

Is that all you care about?

The only reason why you
give a damn is the business?

Neil, Neil,
listen to me.

And you can go to hell!

We're not taking
the same train on this one.

Good morning.

Morning.

Wendy:
Somebody's going home.

Yes.

Must be wonderful.

Sometimes.

It can be, yes.

If I were her.

Mrs. Scott, I'm sorry,
you'll need an orange gown.

Why orange?

They've operated on her.

This way, Mrs. Scott.

Woman on PA: Dr. Kaiser call
the page operator.

Dr. Kaiser,
call the page operator.

She's fighting.

She's not fighting.

You're fighting.
The machines are fighting.

Things growing
pretty strained...

at home?

Yes.

Friends?

Terry, she promised
to come and see the baby.

- She didn't?
- No.

She's not pulling
away from you.

She doesn't know what to say,
how to deal with it.

She's scared.
This frightens her.

I'm not worrying about it.

Who's worrying about you?

This is very difficult
to get through alone.

There are some people that
I'd like you to meet.

What people?

Parents, like yourself,

they get together
once in a while.

- And do what?
- Talk.

Yeah, I know.

It's like a sack
full of garbage,

you open it up,
it all falls out.

They're getting together
this Friday afternoon.

- I could give you the address.
- No thanks.

I'm late.
I have to go.

Friday afternoon.

( phone ringing )

- When does Blyer turn up
for his trucks?
- Thursday.

- Let's call him.
- Don't worry.

I'm not worrying about it.

Let's just take care of it,
all right?

Shipping.
This is Neil.

Mr. Scott,
this is Mr. Taverner

from County Hospital.

We'd like you to come in
as soon as it's convenient.

It's a matter
of your account.

What do you mean, insurance?
My wife has insurance.

We both have insurance.

Your wife has insurance.
She doesn't have coverage.

Yes, she does.

There's a pamphlet right here.

( phone ringing )

Here's the benefit schedule.

- Taverner.
- Maternity, 16.

Yeah, let me call you back
in a minute.

All covered expenses incurred
as a result of pregnancy

and resulting childbirth,

including complications
arising therefrom.

There it is.

Your wife works at
Trans-Universal Airlines?

Sales, She's a sales
representative.

She was a stewardess
at Palm West

for seven years and then
she went to Trans-Universal.

Five and a half months ago.

Five? Yeah, five.

At which time
she was already pregnant.

Yes, I guess so.

There's an exclusionary clause
in her policy, Mr. Scott.

There's no coverage for
any medical indisposition

at the time of employment.

But, the maternity bill
at City Hospital,

they paid for that.

Your policy paid
for Mrs. Scott's maternity.

But I have
the same clause in mine.

With comprehensive medical
benefits not to exceed $20,000.

So what's the problem?

This is the problem.

$71,000?

Your child has required
a number of procedures.

It's been less
than two weeks.

$71,000?

She wouldn't be alive today
if it weren't

for the extraordinary
facilities available here.

But how am I gonna
pay this?

I don't have
that kind of money.

The bill has to be satisfied,
Mr. Scott,

one way or another.

( hammering )

All this stuff is good
for is fire wood.

I should have done this
months ago.

What's happened?

They've done the surgery.

When?

I don't know.

Yesterday, last night.

Well.

Neil?

Don't rush me into
anymore feelings.

They just aren't there.

Damn them for this.

You know?
Damn all of it.

- No, never.
- Never is a deep pit.

What does that mean?

I was called down to the
hospital business office today.

It turns out our insurance
has run out.

They want $71,000 from us,
and it's climbing.

I wish she'd been born dead.

Not now, Neil.

God, please, don't fall apart
on me now. I need you.

What for? I can't even help
my own child.

- Our child!
- She's not our child.
She's theirs!

- Stop it!
- You tell them to stop it.

You never tell them
a God damn thing!

You just sit there, crying.

- I can't help my crying.
- I hate your crying.

It makes me feel like
I'm supposed to do something.

I feel like I'm failing you.
I have failed!

I love you, Neil.

I love our baby.

I need you to love us both.

Woman:
Well, you know,

she's still
on home hyperalimentation,

Iv solutions at night.

and we're fighting organ damage
which is rough.

How are you managing
with the tray?

Well, compared to
other things we've seen,

we'll take that any time.
No problem.

I always say on my bad days,
I always say

I know what Janet would say,

All: No problem.
( laughing )

Excuse me.

No problem.

So how's your baby?

He's doing very well
cognitively.

He's just very impaired
motor wise.

We're working on it,
but it is driving us crazy.

Cheese?

Hi.

You want some more wine?

Sure.

Just don't look at the label.

( laughing )

That bothers you doesn't it?

How can they laugh
like that?

They couldn't
with anybody else.

Well, their babies are alive.

And yours is dying.
You're afraid she'll die.

And you're afraid she won't.

Afraid to want her to die

and yet you think
that's what's best.

And you think back
over those thoughts

and you think those are not
the feelings of a mother.

How can I be having
those feelings?

What kind of person am I?

Thinking about letting
your own child die?

We have all gone through
those feelings.

I'd rather not talk
about this.

But that's what you're
thinking, isn't it?

I don't know
the right thing to do.

I don't even know the right
thing to want to do.

Easier to back away
and leave it up to the doctors.

And you're clean.

You're off the hook morally.

But your child
is still suffering.

But how can you go
to the doctors

and tell them what to do?

Who better?

Who else is gonna go
the whole route?

But you just can't do that.

Can you?

I have a little boy.
He's 8 years old.

He was a 32-week preemie.

He had a grade three IVH
when he was on 70% oxygen.

And they put in a shunt.

He had heart stoppage.
They put a wire into his heart.

And uh...

I felt that the torture
and the invasion

that was going on
with my baby had to stop.

Only I didn't feel
entitled to say that.

I had very bad feelings
about myself

when I even thought that.

Today he's certifiably blind.

He has the mental development
of a 2-year-old.

When I first took him
into the hospital

to have the shunt replaced
at 2 years old,

the nurses all said,
"oh, isn't he cute?"

And today
when I take him in,

when he starts to go crazy,

'cause I know that he knows
where he's going.

They don't think
he's so cute anymore.

They think he's a pain
in the ass.

What happens to him
when he's 20?

Or when he's 40
if I'm not here?

My husband and I
haven't slept together

since we brought
our son home.

My husband sleeps in another
room with him every night

because he wakes up
with seizures.

You know,
did they think of that

when they saved his life?

Or did they do it
just because they could?

I've lived with what
you're going through.

And they talked me out
of trying to stop it.

Actually, they didn't need
to talk me out of it.

My guilt talked me out of it.

And I've been paying
with guilt ever since.

( knock on door )

I was hoping
you'd still be here.

What chance does my baby have?

Statically with
a grade four IVH,

chances are very high that
she will end up

with multiple devastations.

Multiple?

Mental retardation,

Hydrocephalus, seizures,

cerebral palsy,
blindness.

What about her lungs?

That complicates
things further.

Not much chance
for anything?

No.

I want her taken off
the respirator.

I want it all stopped.

I don't know how to do it.

I don't know how
to make them do it.

Neither do I.

( sighs )

But I'm gonna help you try.

- Would you?
- I think you're right.

I think they've done as much
as they can.

What can I do?

We could ask for a meeting
of the ethics committee.

Ethics, what's that?

It's an infant care
review hearing.

It's called if
the parents and doctors

can't agree on therapy or care.

As a member,
I can call it for you.

When?

- Two or three days?
- What happens?

Dr. Radburn will argue
his position.

I will present yours.

No, I'll present mine.

Every hospital has
its own rules and procedures.

At this hospital,
parents they don't attend.

Because it's thought that
the committee members

would not be able to speak
openly, truthfully.

They don't even want
to know the parents.

They think it's better
if they don't.

I can't be there?

I agree with you.
I don't think it's proper.

You could try.

- You could ask.
- Who?

The standing chairman
is Dr. Radburn.

( sighs )

Emergency trachea
will keep him going.

I'll get a neurologist
down here stat.

I want you to stand by,
keep the air passage clear.

Wendy:
Dr. Radburn?

Mrs. Scott.

- You want to come
to the hearing?
- Yes.

Be here Wednesday morning,
9:00.

I'll have somebody
take you down.

What time is it?

It's pretty late.

Aren't you cold?

A little.

Well, come on to bed.

In a minute.

I need you there tomorrow.

I can't.

We have a big shipment
going out.

It's got to get done.
Dave can't do it alone.

Please.

What's the point?

They aren't gonna listen
to a word you have to say.

Behind those doors
you do the best you can

with what you've got.

It is not our job

to keep long-term
custodial facilities full.

It's our job to prevent it.

I did not get into
this business to play God,

to decide who's going
to get treatment

and who's not.

Our job is to do
the best we can

to achieve the best outcome.

Now in some situations that
may mean a vegetated outcome,

but that is still our job.

And I am never going
to be in a position

of taking the baby's
only chance

unless the outcome
is so dismal

that there is none,
no hope.

It is my feeling
that parents have a right

and an obligation
to support that effort

as much as I do.

And I think most
of society agrees with me

that parents do not have
the right to withhold therapy,

appropriate, logical,
sensible therapy

that sensible men might agree
upon any more than I do.

You don't go into a pregnancy,
unless you want your baby.

This is a time when you
ought to be in there

covering us
with your support,

stumbling all over yourselves
to work with us.

But some parents, however,
even those tenuous links

that you hope to establish
haven't tied in.

They're reacting
to anxiety and stress

in a way that is not
the same for everybody else.

I can respect that.

But when we are in there,

with your baby,

fighting to preserve
its life,

I have no concern
with that kind of thinking,

none, zero.

We have preceded 29 days
into therapy with this baby.

We have gathered the opinions
of specialists,

neurologists, neurosurgeons,

neonatal intensive care
specialists.

We have performed various
x-rays and studies

and have come to the conclusion
that at the moment

we are indeed in very serious
trouble with this baby.

At the moment.

There are children attending
the schools of this city

that have been
at that moment themselves.

This child...
is entitled...

to our continuing every effort
to ensure its chance

for that life.

Mrs. Scott.

Mrs. Scott.

( clears throat )

You don't go into a pregnancy
unless you want your baby,

is that what you said?

I believe that's what I said.

What do you know about us
as parents?

Have you ever asked
one question?

Do you know who we are?

How much we planned for
and wanted a child?

How much we looked
forward to one?

You don't know anything
about us.

You don't want to know.

We're just good parents
or bad parents.

Good if we follow you blindly,
bad if we don't.

You say there are children
in school today who've been

where my child is now.

How many?

One in 20?

One in a hundred?

What about the others?

You never say.

You only show us wonderful,

wonderful pictures
on the wall.

Where are the ones
who aren't so wonderful?

How often are parents told

of the damage
that can be done

if their babies
are put on the respirator?

Um,

brain bleeds, blindness,

lungs blown out,
irrevocable damage,

all because
of the respirator.

Maybe,
in three of four months

you can hand us a child
to take home.

But in two years
or six or ten,

where are you?

And the family is bankrupt
and often destroyed.

Where will all you wonderful,

caring...
people be then?

You use statistics to say
what you want us to hear.

But you can not admit

that what you're often doing

is medical experimentation,
not therapy.

Because you really
don't know what works.

I think it's medical torture.

And why don't I have a choice

whether or not I want my child,

she's my child,

to go through that?

Just tell me something,

do you think
my little girl wants to be

in that pained,

tortured...

tiny body?

I don't think so.

Would you want anybody
you loved

to be suffering
inside that body?

Please...

let her go.

Pete: Wendy.

Ethics Committees are not
known for their courage.

I'm sorry.

Shipments got out.

What are you guys doing?

About what?

The holidays.

We're fine.

Fine?

Tell me to butt out.

Butt out.

I better roll.

- Call.
- Yeah, sure.

Neil,
Merry Christmas.

( sighs ) Thanks.

You too.

Didn't think
you'd be home yet.

- Just got in.
- Anything different?

At the hospital?

Lousy numbers,

all around.

Christmas present.

$207,000.

I thought you
paid this already.

I bought that new
pair of shoes instead.

I don't think
you can do that.

Let's get out of here.

And go where?

On a date.

A what?

A date.

I've forgotten how.

Let's fake it.

Santa: Ho, ho, ho,
Merry Christmas.

Ah, ah, ah,
What are you doing?

Hinting for handouts.

How did you get my number?
It's not in the book.

All right, I just didn't
want you to think

that I was always
such a bargain, that's all.

Life is short.

If we're spending it like
there's no tomorrow,

you may as well
spend it on me.

Let's go in.

( music box playing )

Mozart.

It's Mozart.

Can we get it for her...

for Katy?

She's never heard music.

( phone ringing )

Hello.

Yes.

Thank you.

They want us down
at the hospital right away.

( dramatic music playing )

Woman on PA:
Dr. Warren, NICU

Dr. Warren, NICU, please.

Her heart is just giving out.

We did everything we could,
I'm sorry.

This is not what
we were working towards

but we could just
never catch up.

Have you taken her off
the ventilator?

We'll need your consent.

Our consent?

I have some forms
for you to sign.

They're in my office.

- Is she in any pain?
- No, no pain.

She'll breath on her own
but only for a few hours.

I want to take her home.

I want to take her home.

( music box playing Mozart )