No Ordinary Baby (2001) - full transcript

Bingo.

[ Beeping ]

B.p.d.?

It's 8.7 centimeters.
It's appropriate.

Head circumference?

32.2.

Appropriate.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Typing ]

All right, the hytners
are in ultrasound now.

Mm-hmm, tell them I'll be there
in five minutes.



I told them that
five minutes ago.

[ Chuckles ]

Of course,
then you've got the sullivans.

Aaah!

Thank you, Alice.

You're welcome.

Well...amy looks great.

[ Sighs ] Ooh!

What?
Are you okay?

Some soccer player --
she nearly kicked out my ribs.

Gets that
from your side of the family.

Her mother used to wrestle

under the name
"steel-toed Theresa."

[ Laughter ]



Dr. Gordon...
The sullivans?

Oh.

Take her blood pressure, Alice,
and give him a lollipop.

We're getting backed up.

I'm sorry.

Tell them I'll be there
as soon as I can.

All right.

Dr. Walden,
everything cool on your end?

Oh, we're in great shape.

Five weeks and counting.

Can we see her?

Mm-hmm.
Here it comes.

[ Gasps ]

She's pretty.

Unh-unh-unh.

Give that to me.

Sorry.

Oh...

Those are always a big hit
at parties.

I'll call you when I get
the rest of the tests back.

[ Door opens ]

Oh, my god.

Oh, Chris.

This reminds me
of when we first saw Katie.

Oh...

...paul Dietrich was arrested
this afternoon

after a 6-month investigation
by the city attorney's office.

The commissioner was charged
with embezzling

over $60,000
in parking-meter coins.

The mayor has yet to comment,
but prosecutors say

commissioner Dietrich
should be given no quarter.

He's something else.

Alice?

Hmm?

Are we on the same team here?

The sullivans want a baby
just as badly --

because if we're not, I think
you ought to take a vacation.

You know, go visit your sister
in Detroit.

All I'm saying is

the hytners shouldn't get
all the attention.

They don't.

They don't.

Yes, Dr. Gordon.

Come on, dad!
Come on!

What --

yeah!

Okay, over here!
Over here!

Oh!

I thought Jeff's mom
was dropping you off.

Mom, it's dad's day.

Huh? Oh?

Told ya!

That's two tickets
to the Phillies!

You had a bet?

Ah, get in the car.

Thanks for dropping him off.

Amanda,
I've always wondered.

What?

Did you ever lose
a sperm sample?

Bye, Matthew.

I can pick him up tomorrow.

It's not necessary.

Why not let me help?

I am his father.

I can handle this,
Matthew.

Billy stays at his dad's house
through the week.

Alice's dad gets her
Thursday through Monday.

Dad says I can maybe stay
with him sometimes.

Do you want to?

Well, you know...

Well, we'll see, okay?

Oh, god,
you need a haircut.

[ Chuckles ]

What do you say?
You want Thai or Sushi tonight?

I thought we were gonna
start eating at home.

Yeah, we're eating at home.

We're not cooking at home,
but we're eating at home.

Oh, I get it.

[ Laughing ]

There's a mosquito
in the car!

Eee! Eee-eee! Eee-eee!

The Wakefield tavern
has been a watering hole

for the power brokers
of this city

since the days
of Benjamin Franklin.

You realize you're dead
at Antonio's, chez helene's.

You're never gonna dine out
in this city again.

Yeah, the sacrifices I make
for the public's right to know.

Well, you know,
it's good for ratings.

Mmm --
lowbrow, but no Emmy.

Thank you.

[ Video rewinding ]

Okay, watch this.

But behind the doors of some of our finest restaurants,

lies something that we here
at wlor think you should know.

Oh!

Ha ha!

The money shot!

Jimmy, you genius!

Thank you.

Well, we can show them
the rat-tail caviar,

but you can't keep them
from eating it.

I think this is definitely
the high point of my career --

tracking rat droppings
across Philadelphia --

and I have you to thank.

Someday, when you're sitting
in Katie Couric's chair,

just remember the shot
that got you there.

[ Telephone rings ]

Editing.

Oh, yeah, she's here.

It's for you.

Thanks. Yeah?

Yeah, this is Linda sanclair.
Who's this?

Well, what kind of story?

Well, yeah,
of course I can meet you.

Where?

[ Alarm activates ]

When
did the contractions start?

Oh, um...

What's her b.P.?

I felt a little twinge
last night.

Things really started happening
this morning.

Any bleeding?

No.

Ed?

It seems Amy has
some pregame jitters.

Roll over on your back.
Let's ultrasound.

We've been talking to her,

playing Mozart.

Beats limp bizkit.

Chris has been teaching her
how to crank out software code.

My boss hires hackers
straight out of nursery school.

Shh, shh.

[ Heartbeat ]

This doesn't make any sense.

There we go.

See this, ed?

Mm-hmm.

The a.C. Is unchanged,
which is inappropriate,

and she's having contractions.

You're thinking
about going in?

God!

We were so close, ed.

If it were
a normal pregnancy,

I'd say let's wait.

Amy's
abdominal circumference

hasn't changed
since her last test.

You said everything was okay
yesterday.

Well, it may be now.

What we're seeing
is a red flag

telling US she might not be
getting adequate nutrition.

It's called intrauterine
growth retardation.

Amy's not retarded,
is she?

No, no, not at all.

Her head circumference
is perfectly normal,

which tells US that her brain is
growing just fine.

But your amniotic fluid
is decreasing.

Yes,
and that has to improve.

If it doesn't,
and that's a very big if,

we may have to perform
a caesarean section.

Look, look,

if we can get a better picture
of the blood flow,

it might not be necessary.

Well, get it!

With Amy in this position,

we can't get a view
of the umbilical vein.

Virginia, you've gotta get up
and walk until the baby moves.

Come on, sweetie.

Okay.

At least
the contractions have stopped.

How am I doing?

Well, it's, uh...

No.

It's, uh, more...

Needs a little more action.

More -- more activity.

A bounce.
A little bouncing.

Yeah, more movement.

Bounce more, yeah.
Good.

Yeah, like Ted.
Maybe not quite that hard.

You know,
just a little bounce.

Okay, and the pelvis, too.
Put a little --

you remember the jerk?
Remember this?

Chris,
help your wife out here.

Well...no --

maybe that's a little hard.

Let's try that one --
the swim.

That's it.

Keep the pelvis --
that's better. That's better.

Yeah.

Here we go.
Come on! Come on!

Okay, I can breaststroke,
maybe a little butterfly.

[ Laughter ]

And we're looking
for a splotch of green, hmm?

[ Sighs ]

[ Beeps ]

I see it.

There it is.

Now, that is the vein.

It looks like
a perfectly normal blood flow.

Oh!

Now I think it's best
if we take her to a hospital.

Do I have to?

You could stay here
at the center if you prefer.

We've got a room upstairs.
You can get some bed rest.

I already feel like
I'm under surveillance.

It's that or the hospital.

Ah!
Split. No, no, no.

Dr. Crowley!
Billy!

I was hoping something
interesting would turn up --

a ruptured appendix,
broken leg, bowling ball --

but I guess I'll
just have to settle for you.

Admit it,
you're thrilled to see me.

I don't suppose I could interest
you in dinner after I get off.

Alas,
this is not a social call.

I was wondering if maybe

you could take a look
at something for me.

Can I at least
get a rain check?

No. Here.

Don't tell me --
Elvis' autopsy?

No, everybody knows
Elvis isn't dead.

No, it's just that it read
like hieroglyphics to me,

and I thought maybe you
could make some sense of it.

Where'd you get this?

That good, huh?

Oh, yeah.

[ Talking indistinctly ]

Chris? Are you up?

[ Groans ]

Yeah, I am now.

Oh...

You need something?

Libby called again
this morning.

She really wants to come.

You're lucky to have
so many people who love you.

I just --

I don't want her asking
a lot of questions, you know?

I want to have this baby
without anyone judging me.

Sweetie,
your sister loved Katie so much.

If anybody's gonna understand,
it's her.

There's something else
bothering you.

What is it?

I don't know.

My...

My eggs are no good.

Maybe my insides are shot,
too.

[ Voice breaking ]
I just don't think --

[ sighs ]

I don't think
I can get to know her

and lose her, too.

[ Crying ]

[ Sighs ]

You know what I think?

What?

This baby wows me.

[ Chuckles ]

Hmm?

You wow me.

[ Knock on door ]

Oops. Sorry.

I'm leaving.

Any contractions?

Not for hours.

You okay?

Dr. Mcelroy's right outside.
You got my beeper.

Yep, and your cell and your home
and your fax and your e-mail.

Everything, all right.

Thank you, Dr. Gordon.
You guys are great.

Well, did you have dinner?
Tell your father I'm sorry.

I'm on my way.
Yeah, bye.

Dr. Gordon?

Hi, I'm Linda sanclair
from wlor TV news,

and I was wondering if I could
ask you a few questions.

About what?

Well, I would like to verify,
if I could,

a couple of things that I've
heard.

Why don't you call my office
tomorrow?

We'll set up a time.

Well, I'll do that, but in the
meantime,

I would love it if you could
spare a couple of minutes.

I'm sorry.

Excuse me.
I am late to pick up my son.

I don't need your reaction, but
I would like to be fair.

You've cloned a human baby.
Am I correct?

No.

No?

No, our research focuses

on advancing in vitro
fertilization.

We are not cloning
human beings.

I understand your reluctance
to go on the record,

but I think that we both know
that that's not true.

[ Doorbell buzzing repeatedly ]

Don't you ever answer your
phone?!

I have been calling nonstop for
the past 20 minutes!

What if I was the hospital or
the hytners --

oh.

Oh.

She can hold that pose for
almost six minutes.

Well, can she hold it
for an hour?

Damn it.

How did she get that file?

I swear it was locked in my
cabinet.

It's gotta be somebody who works
with US.

What's she planning to do, this
reporter?

She's got a great story.
She's planning to tell it.

Hey, I wonder
if they'll give US

our nobel prizes
in the slammer.

Oh!

[ Laughs ]

Do we tell the hytners?

No, it might upset them.

They have a right to know.

They will when it's absolutely
necessary.

We've agreed on that, hmm?

Why don't you talk
to this woman?

Try to help her understand the
importance of our work.

I don't think she cares.

Well, stall her.
Buy her off.

Do anything,
just keep the lid on this

until the baby is born, hmm?

Well, at least this Linda --
blah blah --

whatever her name is --
doesn't know the hytners' name.

We'd better keep it that way,
hmm?

The browns are here.
They're pregnant.

They'll be waiting in room 10
when you're ready.

Thanks, Alice.

I'm standing here --
god, that's so local.

Just think rat droppings and
you'll be fine.

Oh, very funny, ha ha.

Remember Dolly, the cloned
Scottish sheep?

How's my hair?

Still on your head.

Yeah...

Next came cloned monkeys and
headless tadpoles.

Well, now it appears human
clones are in the pipeline.

Can we get this done before the
clones have clones?

Ready for rolling.

Thank you very much.

All right.

Am I squeezing the Mike?

You're all right.

We're here at the center for
reproductive medicine,

one of this country's leading
infertility clinics,

where wlor has learned
exclusively

that Dr. Amanda Gordon
and a team of specialists

have cloned a human embryo.

Dr. Gordon, who graduated
medical school at 22,

went on to specialize in
obstetrics

and did her postgraduate work
in embryology at u. Of p.

Dr. Gordon founded the center

to help infertile couples
conceive.

Now it appears that one such
couple

is about to have the world's
first human clone,

raising what used to be a
hypothetical question

to an imminent debate.

Does the cloning of human life
represent

a breakthrough in science or
a breakdown in medical ethics?

Linda sanclair, wlor --

you said no one would know,
not till after.

They don't know who you are,
and they won't.

Your name doesn't appear
in any of our records.

How'd this happen?
That's not important.

We think it would be best

if we moved you to a private
clinic.

When?

As soon as possible.

The university may be forced to
shut US down.

We'd like to move you
right now.

Whoa! Whoa!

Remember when Amanda first
brought US together?

I told you I was certain

that we could give you a normal,
healthy child.

Well, now we've gone far enough
so that I can say

with even greater certainty

that Amy is going to be
absolutely fine,

and this move will be fine,
too.

Then let's do it.

[ Engine turns over ]

Everybody all set?

Yeah.
Go, go, go, go, go.

Yeah.

Dr. Gordon's keeping them under
wraps, but we're on it.

Oh, believe me, we will find
them.

[ Bleating ]

Oh, yeah.

Shut up!

Oh, absolutely.

Oh, yeah,
you can count on it.

All right.

Yeah, it was great talking to
you, too.

Thanks.

[ Bleats ]

Who was that --

lovesick news junkie proposing
marriage again?

Who that? No.

No, that was just Dan Reilly
from New York.

Network Dan?!

Ho ho ho!

Whoo!
♪ doin' the Dan ♪

♪ you've got me doin' the Dan,
network Dan ♪

They're running the segment on
"the news hour"!

For real?

For real, and he wants another
one asap.

So are we gonna be famous, like,
sometime next week?

Well, not if we don't have the
story.

Well,
we gotta find that couple.

Yeah.

Dan!

Oh, god.

Dr. Gordon, is there a time that
I can meet with you today?

I don't see any reason
for US to meet.

The information is out there.

You put it out there.

Doctor, you couldn't possibly
have thought

that nobody would find out
about this.

If I hadn't broken the story,
somebody else would have,

so let me help you get your
story out in a controlled way

before they paint you as a
Dr. Frankenstein.

Amanda, come on.
They're waiting.

I'm sorry.

Dr. Gordon, ed, consider our
position.

You have needlessly jeopardized
the university's good standing

with federal funding sources.

Many of our key donors
are in an uproar.

I am getting livid phone calls
from the board of directors,

and every corner of the media is
camped on my doorstep.

Dr. Griffiths, we've done
nothing illegal.

But you have trampled over
university procedures,

and you have completely
ignored

the review process of your
colleagues.

Why didn't either of you come to
me with this idea?

Because
you would have said no.

And why didn't you raise
private money?

Which kook or cult would you
like US to have approached?

Dr. Howard north,
Dean of biology.

Dr. Gordon, the cloning of
Dolly the sheep

came after 277 failures.

How many dead or deformed
fetuses did you throw away

before this one worked?

None.

A number of embryos failed

in the earliest stages
of cell division,

which is common in in vitro
procedures,

but we implanted
only one embryo --

it's not a fetus,
it's an embryo --

into the mother, who had made an
informed decision.

And who is to say that after the
child is born

there won't be some gross
abnormality?

We're doing pioneering work in
DNA transfer

and stem-cell research,

which I am confident will
produce

a healthy and normal child.

Still, what possible motivation
is there

for cloning an entire being?

Well, in the United States,

couples have a constitutionally
protected right

to make their own reproductive
decisions.

Look at Louise brown.

She's called the first
test-tube baby.

People were absolutely bent out
of shape

because her life started in a
petri dish,

but because of her, we now have
a successful process

that produced 300,000 children
last year all around the world.

Where is it written

that all people have the right
to reproduce?

If nature doesn't intend for
them to do so,

does science have the right to
change what was not meant to be?

Well, obviously,

you think what we did was
arrogant and reckless,

that cloning defies god

or could result in genetic
engineering

of a master race or some other
nightmare.

This isn't vanity science,

and a clone is much more than a
copy of its original.

It's its own unique being with a
personality and character.

Now, I believe this as a
scientist,

but I know it as a mother.

Are we to conclude

that you have no regrets about
what you've done?

I sleep very well at night.

I'm not haunted
by what we do.

[ Reporters shouting questions ]

Dr. Walden, I'm Linda sanclair
with wlor TV news.

No.

How's the baby, doctor?

No.

"No" as in
the baby's not well?

Dr. Walden...

Mutagenic bacteria.

Excuse me?

Nasty little bugs that feed on
anything healthy.

Like reporters.

Thank you.

Really,
have you no decency?

Just enough to do my job and not
hate myself.

[ Toilet flushes ]

[ Clears throat ]

Hi, I'm Katie Couric.
[ Chuckles ]

I'll make sure
nothing gets lost.

Thanks, Alice.

I've notified your patients to
contact Dr. Hendricks

until further notice.

Do I have
any patients left?

I'll see you, then.

Mm-hmm.

Oh, Alice...

Thanks for everything.
You were a great help.

If you need anything, please
don't hesitate to call.

Yeah.

Homework time, Henry!

Mom, can we talk about summer
vacation?

Maybe later.
Worry about your book report.

What about bungee jumping over
the Grand Canyon instead?

If I let you stay at your
father's,

will you remember to take enough
Insulin?

Duh.

So, mom,
about summer break...

Uh-huh.

What do you think?

Uh...

Can't you just see yourself hang
gliding off mt. Everest?

Uh-huh.

White-water rafting over the
Niagara Falls?

Uh-huh.

Love you, mom.

Oh!

I love you, too, Henry.

I can't figure out this.

If they were to clone me,

would I be the kid's father or
brother?

I think that they say
you'd be both.

Oh, yeah, like "Chinatown."
Oh!

Oh, my god.
The yuck factor.

This is so good.

The scientists actually have a
name for it.

"What bioethicists call the yuck
factor --

the initial revulsion at the
very notion of cloning,"

which I totally get

because that's completely how
much it creeps me out.

I'm gonna have my kids the
old-fashioned way,

you know what I'm saying?

Also this --

"cloned humans might show higher
rates of cancer

"or other diseases,
but we'd only find out

by cloning them and waiting to
see if disaster strikes."

Doesn't sound ethical to me.

I'm using it.
I gotta get ahold of this guy.

You ever, uh, you ever think
about having kids?

Yeah.

Yeah, actually.

I, uh, you know --

before Charlie died,

when we were in the hospital,
and he wanted to --

seriously, he was thinking about
freezing some of his sperm,

and I had to --

you know, I had to really think
about it.

And ultimately I thought I
couldn't handle it, you know,

having a little Charlie running
around, growing up.

You know, I thought --
it was just too, I don't know --

it'd make me too sad,
so I didn't wind up...

[ Car door opens ]

All right, let's roll.

Yeah, I know this place.

I did a story here once.

It's the old-folks' home.
Of course.

Think about it --
out of the way,

medical facilities.

It's perfect.

I want to go to her house
for the easter-egg hunt.

[ Heartbeat ]

Dr. Gordon...

Hmm?

Dr. Gordon, I just --

just a minute, Chris!

Is anything wrong?
Is she not growing again?

[ Beep ]

No, she's growing fine.
I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Chris.

I'm just so distracted.

I never imagined
that the two of you

would have to go through
all this.

It is pretty awful.

I'm sorry the university's
giving you such a hard time.

Well, I'm not a fool.

I know what bothers people about
this, but this is my work.

It's always been my work.

We should have found a better
way to protect you.

[ Chuckles softly ]

I guess we all were a little
naive.

[ Chuckles ]

Nevertheless...

I'd do it all again for the
two of you.

Thank you.

[ Cellphone ringing ]

What's that --
oh, probably the lab.

Hello?

Well --

well, where are you?

Okay, all right.
I'll be right there.

Bye.

[ Voice breaking ]
It's Henry, my son.

Is he all right?

He's fine.

He just had a fight
at school.

Thank you.

Bye-bye.

Bye.

Here comes the 0-2 pitch.

Bunts down the third-base line.

Fields it to first,
and he's out.

Hi.

I'm Linda.

I'm sorry if I'm intruding.

There she is!
There she is!

[ Horn honks ]

Henry, put your head down.

Okay, mom.
Good grief.

[ Horn honking ]

Would you look out, please?!

I'm trying to get into my
driveway!

[ Horn honking ]

Just get through this crowd as
fast as you can, all right?

All right.

1, 2, 3, go.

[ Reporters shouting questions ]

Leave me alone!

Out of the way, please!

It's not fair.
Why should I --

well, life isn't fair.

Leave her alone!
She's got nothing to say!

Hey, can I have a soda?

Yeah, sure -- check your blood
sugar first!

Fine.

Oh, I hate this!

You hate it?
What about Henry?

You ever think about him for a
moment?

Oh, are you a member of the god
squad now?

Well, let's just say it doesn't
come as a surprise,

your desire to want to make
perfect babies.

Is that what you think this is
all about?

What is wrong with trying to
bring healthy children

to loving parents?!

Oh, really?
Is that what it's all about --

for the parents, not your own
ego, huh?

Amanda,
you're an ambitious woman.

You always were.
What about Henry, hmm?

Are you doing all this so you
can fix him genetically?

Aagh!

Henry...

Your dad and I
think it might be better

if you stayed with him
for a few days.

I know this thing has been
pretty tough on you.

If you could have made a baby
without diabetes,

would you have still
have had me?

[ Telephone rings ]

[ Voice breaking ] I think you
are perfect in every way.

Amanda...

Hmm?

It's ed.

Mom, it's okay.

You can get the phone.

How long has she been here?

I came back from the hospital,
there she was.

What do you think
you're doing?

Oh, Dr. Gordon,
Dr. Walden, um --

get out.

Before I call security,
get out.

Well, I'm here to help,

and I think that the hytners
understand that.

It's okay, Dr. Gordon.

Oh, why?

Because I think that they
understand

they're about to face the hell
of living in a media spotlight.

Their motives
will be trashed,

their fitness as parents will be
questioned,

and a blessed event will be
turned into a spitting contest.

And this is
where you come in.

Yes, that's right,
this is where I come in,

because I'll give people
a fair picture

so that they can see just why
you decided to do this

and what it means to you.

So if you talk with me and only
with me, we'll break it,

and that way, you'll control the
story and not the press.

Look, miss sanclair, if you've
discovered US,

some other mudslinger will,
too.

We can't make deals with every
one of you.

Well, if you go with me, you
won't have to.

Clearly,
there's only one thing to do.

And now from New York,

this is the ctn evening news
with Dan Reilly.

Good evening from New York.

The brave new world of science
fiction

is one giant step closer to
reality today.

We have groundbreaking news of
the first cloned human baby.

Later this evening, we'll have a
special report,

but now
we go to Linda sanclair,

a reporter of our affiliate
wlor, live

in Philadelphia.

Thank you, Dan.

We just received word that in a
few moments,

Dr. Amanda Gordon of the center
for reproductive medicine

will be holding a press
conference here at Liberty hall.

Since the birth of the cloned
sheep, Dolly,

all of US have known this day
would come.

Using more refined techniques,

our team was able to take a
single cell

from the cornea of a deceased
child

and transplant it
into a donor egg

from which the nucleus
had been recovered,

thereby creating a twin of the
original child.

Dr. Gordon! Doctor!
Don't you mean a clone?

I prefer to call these children
serial twins

because while they will be very
similar genetically,

they will have been raised in
different environments,

which actually will make them
even less alike

than identical twins.

I would like to assure you

that this child will be as much
an individual as you or me.

What would you say to critics
who call cloning immoral,

unethical,
or unnecessary, even?

Tell them they don't have to use
the procedure.

But I imagine if these same
critics were infertile

or suffering from some other
reproductive disease,

they wouldn't be so quick to
criticize what for many

may be their last chance
to have a child.

Dr. Gordon!
Dr. Gordon!

Can we expect a rash of vanity
clonings?

Say,
a world of Mel Gibsons?

Even a Mel Gibson clone would
come into the world hairless,

toothless, and peeing in his
diapers.

He might even decide to become a
geneticist

instead of an actor...
Or a reporter.

Dr. Gordon, let's be honest,

if you're successful
with this birth,

the patents on this process

would make you richer
than Bill Gates.

In that unlikely event,

I will donate my share of the
profits

to research into reproductive
freedoms.

Dr. Gordon!

Can you tell US something about
the child's parents?

No, I do not intend to tell you
anything about her parents.

So the clone is a girl,
Dr. Gordon?

What happens after the baby's
born,

growing up in someone else's
genetic shadow

in a society that may not be
ready for that?

What?

Do you believe
that this little girl

has any chance
at a normal life?

Uh...

Yes.

Yes, I do.

That's all.

That's all.
No more questions.

[ Reporters murmuring ]

What do you need
more kids for?

The same as you --

you can't even tell one from
the other anymore.

I read that Dolly the sheep,
the first clone,

is incredibly obese,
abnormally large.

Sure, we can make clones,

but will they grow up to be
healthy, normal people?

Political and religious leaders
around the globe today

roundly condemned the practice
of human cloning.

In Philadelphia,
our ctn poll shows

three out of four Americans
believe

human cloning
is against god's will.

In congress, politicians on both
sides of the aisle

called for vigorous enforcement
of the ban on cloning,

and at the white house earlier
today,

the president's press secretary,
Katherine Lilly,

had this to say.

The president firmly believes

that cloning raises serious
ethical questions,

and he strongly supports all
aspects of the pending bill

banning human cloning.

They'll blow smoke
a little while,

and when Amy is born

they'll give her a night
in the Lincoln bedroom.

[ Chuckles ]

The president has requested
that the justice department...

See what else is on.

Are there any questions?

What I am frightened most about
is that a new age will come

and that it will be an age that
is abhorrent to US

and we will not have been ready
with the laws

and the moral concepts
to stop it.

The time has come
for US as a society

to ask whether or not the
vanity of some parents

and the egos of scientists can
transform human procreation

into a manufacturing process.

In a world where a child --

you don't need to listen to
this.

I don't get it.

They don't know US.

Who are they to tell US what
makes a family?

Get some rest...

All three of you.

Thanks.

Can you turn it back on?

No.
Dr. Gordon's right.

We don't need to watch that
stuff.

Maybe they're right.

Maybe we're being arrogant.

This is just god's way of
showing US.

God understands
how much we loved Katie.

I know he does.

[ Sighs ]

Crowd: Nature, yes!
Science, no!

Human cloning's got to go!

Crowd:
[ Chanting ] Let US choose!

It's our bodies!
Let US choose!

Dr. Gordon has just completed
her testimony

before the university review
committee.

[ Chanting continues ]

Please allow me to speak!

Nature, yes!
Science, no!

Human cloning's got to go!

At no time did anyone connected
with the university

authorize research into human
cloning.

A full internal investigation is
continuing

to determine whether any laws
have been violated.

Dr. Gordon has been suspended
from the university staff

pending completion of her legal
process,

and there will be no further
stem-cell or cloning research --

science, no!
Human cloning's got to go!

Nature, yes!
Science, no!

Human cloning's got to go!

Sanclair: 2:00. 2:00.

I'm on it.

Nature, yes!
Science, no!

Human cloning's got...

I went behind your back,
and for that, I'm sorry.

Why didn't you come to me?

I tried, but you're so busy
trying to make history.

I should have known
it was you.

You went too far!

Doctors don't create life!

That's god's work!

I had no choice!

Who's the heroes and who's the
villains?

I don't know.

[ Reporters shouting questions ]

Yeah, well, that's good.

So tell Virginia I'm just gonna
drop a few things home,

and then I'll be over.

Right. Bye.

Dr. Gordon?

Huh?

Dr. Gordon, hi.

I'm sorry, do I know you?

Norton Graham.

I'm in the eugenics field
myself.

I think what you've done is
truly monumental.

The impact on the federal budget
will be staggering.

Just imagine the savings to
welfare, special education,

healthcare alone.

I'm not interested.

Let's face it,

the human race is on a downward
evolutionary spiral.

Genetic disorders are being
passed on,

but with your breakthrough

and e power of genetic
engineering,

we have an opportunity to weed
out the weak and the unhealthy.

I see, so you'd get rid of
weaklings like,

oh, like, say,
Stephen Hawking.

Well, you have to break a few
eggs to make an omelette.

Next would be the diseases --

tay-sachs,
diabetes, alcoholism.

Next you'd manipulate human
intelligence

and then physical prowess.

It's been tried before,
Dr. Graham.

I am not interested.

I can see I've upset you,

but when you've had a chance
to think of all the benefits,

I hope
you'll give me a call.

[ Distorted shouting ]

How far do you plan on going
with this procedure?

Dr. Gordon, one final...

Hello?

Henry?

Hello?

[ Voice shaking ]
Henry, are you okay?!

It's me.

Yeah, I'm okay.

So, what's with this
human-cloning business, huh?

I mean, they say they can take
one tiny, little cell

from anywhere in a human's
body,

and they can turn that
into your twin.

[ Laughter ]

Can you imagine that?

[ Audience groans ]

Oh, I've always wanted a twin
brother.

He's good.

But why would you settle for
any regular kid?

I mean, you can shake hands
with Michael Jordan,

grab a little skin,

maybe grab a flake of dandruff
from the old bill gatester,

and the next thing you know,

you're the proud parent of your
own 7-foot billionaire!

[ Laughs ] [ Laughs ]

But seriously, if you're the
parent of this clone,

what would you possibly tell
your kid?

"Your father was a nose hair."

Come on!
Really!

Wait for me up here.

[ Laughter ]

Hi.

Hi.

Thanks for coming.

Well, thanks for calling.

So...

People have got the wrong idea
about why we are doing this.

Well...
What's the right idea?

I thought...

Maybe if they knew about
Katie...

Katie.

Katie was our daughter.

[ Laughing ]

And she was perfect.

She was funny,

she was --
she was beautiful,

she was smart,

and she was so sweet.

[ Laughs ]
Katie!

The truck came out of nowhere,
and then she was gone, um...

I was driving, understand?

[ Sighs, clears throat ]

Have you ever lost, um...

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Um, but, please, go on.
Go on.

[ Clears throat ]

There were days when Virginia
never even got out of bed.

She kept picturing Katie
growing up --

first communion,
high-school graduation.

I come from a big family -- four
brothers, two sisters --

good catholics.

When I saw a second chance to
make a baby,

I didn't care
about the method.

I mean, how could I say no?

Did god want man to go to the
moon?

I mean, if it can happen, isn't
it natural?

[ Chuckles softly ]

Yeah.

When you get
right down to it,

what have we done
that is so bad?

I'm worried about Chris.

Yeah, expectant fathers are a
pretty jumpy bunch.

How about expectant mothers?

It's not that.

You see...

When Katie died...

All I wanted was to...

Bring her back again.

And, uh...

Just hold her
one more time.

And now look at this.

I'm going to.

No. No, you're not.

This child is not Katie.

She won't be Katie.
This is Amy.

She'll have her own needs and
desires, her own dreams.

You'll have your own dreams
for her.

You'll raise her in a different
environment.

God, even you and Chris aren't
the same now.

That scares me, too.

[ Knock on door ]

Sweetie? I --

Dr. Gordon.

Chris.

Honey, I've been talking
with Linda,

and the more
I think about it,

the more it seems to me
like a good idea

to let her tell our story.

[ Sighs ]

This is really your choice,

but once you put your name
out there,

it's very hard to get it back.

How else can we make people
understand?

All right.

Thank you.

[ Sighs ]

Jimmy!
Get the camera.

Miss sanclair?

Why do I get the feeling

you're about to tell me how to
do my job?

Please don't do this.
The hytners trust you.

They're right to.

They don't understand the
implications.

If there are any hard questions
to be asked,

it'll be of you.

I think if anyone didn't think
through the implications,

it was you.

This is the ctn evening news
with Dan Reilly.

Good evening.

Much of what you've heard about
the first human clone

has focused on the science

and on the ethical questions
raised by the achievements

of Dr. Gordon and her team.

Tonight, we will offer the human
side of this story.

Our Linda sanclair has this
exclusive ctn report.

Dan,
the identity of the couple

having the world's first
cloned baby

has been
a well-guarded secret.

But now, they want the world to
know they have a name --

Virginia and Chris hytner --
and they have a story,

one that may help people
understand why they have taken

this unprecedented step.

What is it you want people to
understand

more than anything else?

We want people to realize that
we're real people

and that we're kind of desperate

and that this seemed to be the
only way.

Virginia and Chris hytner
talked about having children

since the day they got married,

but like many baby boomers,

they decided to wait until
their careers were on track.

Tell me about your first
pregnancy.

There was a problem in my family's genetic history,

so when we heard about Dr. Gordon and her team

and how they could screen even
the tiniest embryo

for genetic defects, including
cystic fibrosis,

we came to Philadelphia.

Dr. Amanda Gordon tried the
then-controversial technique

of in vitro fertilization -- a
test-tube baby.

So what was the day like when
you found out?

Oh, god, I'll never forget it.

We were in the hotel, and Dr. Gordon called up,

and she said, "I'm not very far away.

I'll be right over."

And we let her in,

and she had nonalcoholic
champagne, right?

Something like that.

And the biggest smile I've ever
seen on Dr. Gordon.

You know?
I mean, I just --

I broke down when I found out Katie was gonna be normal.

It was so great.

Katie hytner was born
January 17, 1994 --

7 pounds, 8 ounces.

Her parents reveled in and
recorded every milestone

from her first steps to her
first words

to her first day at
kindergarten.

And then, on a rainy night in
November,

tragedy took her life.

[ Siren wails ]

We always used to sing
in the car.

"Splish splash" -- that was Katie's favorite tune.

We were on our way to my brother's for the weekend.

It was raining, and it's like the truck came out of nowhere.

You know, I swerved...

I...

Well, Dr. Gordon and I were
devastated, of course,

but then I remembered that
Katie had donated her corneas

to an eye bank, and genetically
speaking, at least,

she was still alive.

So we explained that we could
implant Katie's DNA

into a donor egg from a woman

who'd already borne healthy
children.

Chris and Virginia begged US to
intercede.

I mean, it's a miracle.

It's like
a second chance to...

To fulfill our dream.

We're like
any other parents.

We're gonna have a baby.

That's it.

That's the good part.

The hytners realize that human
cloning touches

deeply felt religious and
philosophical beliefs,

but for them,

this is not a story of religion
or philosophy.

It is of love

and of a last chance to fulfill
a lifelong dream.

And now that you know Chris and
Virginia's story,

perhaps one question remains.

If you were in their shoes,

given one last chance
to have a child of your own,

what would you do?

The baby will be born
in three weeks.

Her name will be Amy.

This is Linda sanclair.

And so the controversy continues
as the public has its say,

with our own ctn poll showing a
split right down the middle.

The hytners may be enjoying a
surge in popularity,

but one thing is certain.

They have lost any hope of their
own privacy or Amy's.

Crowd: [ Chanting ]
Science, no!

Nature, yes!
Science, no!

Nature, yes!
Science, no!

Whoo!
Linda, check this out.

I thought we were the ones
who got the story.

It's okay.
We're with ctn.

[ Chanting continues,
siren wails ]

I've always wondered what the
French revolution was like.

At least they're not sharpening
the guillotines.

Not yet.

[ Knock on door ]

Dr. Gordon?
FBI agent olman.

I have a warrant for your
arrest.

You're charged under statute
18usc 371, conspiracy --

stand back, sir, please!
Stand back!

Conspiracy to violate
an executive order

banning the use of cloning.

You can't take my doctor!

Call mcelroy!

Anything you say can...

Tell them to be ready in about a
minute.

Maybe less.

All right.

Happy?

[ Chanting ] Nature, yes!
Science, no!

Human cloning's got to go!

Nature, yes!
Science, no!

[ Chanting ] It's our bodies!
Let US choose!

Get back.
Get back, please.

[ Crowd shouting ]

[ Siren wails ]

Stand back, please.
Stand back.

Dan, the story of Amy hytner has
taken a startling turn

as FBI agents have arrested the
doctors responsible

for her well-being.

Whether Dr. Amanda Gordon

and her colleague,
Dr. Edward walden,

will be jailed or granted bail
remains unclear at this time.

However, there is grave concern
for baby Amy

and what the loss of her doctors
will mean for her.

Hey, Amanda, do you think you'll
spend time in jail?

What do you think of the
charges?

What about the baby?
Who's taking care of her?

This is Linda sanclair reporting
live at lakeside manor.

[ Siren wails ]

Damn it.

Wait, are we out?

Hey, Amanda!

Do you think you'll spend time
in jail?

[ Crowd shouting ]

[ Siren wailing ]

None of our money came from
government grants.

There's no law against cloning
in the state of Pennsylvania.

The ban is against research with
federal funds.

Relax.
They've overplayed their hand.

Is that supposed to make me
feel better?

The government has given US a
perfect forum

to fight this stupid law.

They cannot stop this science,
Amanda,

when so much good
comes out of it.

Wait a minute.
Do you want to go to jail?

If I have to.

Oh, well, not me.
I've got a son to look after.

How long are they gonna keep US
here, one, two weeks?

When they let US go,
we'll be heroes!

I'm not staying.

Our research will be published
by the leading journals.

Cloning will be compared with
the invention of penicillin

and the dawn of the age
of computers.

Now, Amanda, this is not
so bad, is it?

Sorry I'm late.
It's a regular zoo outside.

Get me out of here.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Yeah, hi.

I'm at lakeside manor.

I saw some weird-looking guy
with a box, kind of suspicious.

It could be a bomb, I don't
know.

They said they'd be willing to
go on "the morning news hour."

Yeah, hold on.
I will, but I'm gonna have --

I gotta call you back.

Folks, there's been a bomb
threat.

I need everybody out of the
building right now.

[ All talking excitedly ]

Wait, what is going on?
What's going on?

There's been a bomb threat.

I need you to leave the
building.

Jimmy!

Take it easy, easy, easy.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

I'm sorry, guys.
I'm sorry.

Sorry, sorry, sorry.
Please get out of the way.

Could you move?
I'm sorry.

Virginia, how's it feel to be
center of attention?

Why'd you pick the name Amy?

Do you think the world is ready
for the first cloned baby?

No, no, no!
Move, move, move!

Given the chance, would you do
it all again?!

[ Reporters shouting questions ]

[ Siren wails ]

[ Chanting ] Nature, yes!
Science, no!

Human cloning's got to go!

[ Shouting and chanting ]

My clients, we will argue, are
charged with conspiracy --

I wonder if I could --

your honor, this hearing
is not about cloning,

legally or morally.

It's about bail and the rights
of my clients to be released

pending such a decision.

Your honor --
Amanda, please --

counselor!

Your honor, our patient,
Mrs. Hytner --

Dr. Gordon,
this is a court of law

with rules and procedures.

Well, I am a doctor with
life-and-death responsibilities.

I'll Grant these are extenuating
circumstances.

Be brief.

Go ahead.

Go ahead.
Go ahead.

Thank you, your honor.

Because of her age and past
medical history,

Virginia hytner's pregnancy is
extremely high-risk.

Without nearly constant
monitoring by myself

and Dr. Walden, she could easily
lose this baby.

And given the stress of last
night's idiocy at the lakeside,

her condition is precarious.

Your honor, no matter what you
think or feel

about how she was conceived,

Amy hytner has a right to come
into the world healthy.

I just --
please consider that.

Very good.

All right, counselors, I'll meet
you in my chambers.

This court is in recess
for 10 minutes.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Got you some lunch.

No, thanks.
Not hungry.

Hey, you okay?

Yeah.

Linda, what's going on?

You're driving the biggest story
since Elian Gonzalez.

I know.

I don't know.

I mean, you know how I feel
about this whole thing.

You know,
when we started,

I was just hoping it would go
back to being science fiction,

but know there's --
there's this baby.

I keep --

I keep thinking...

About Charlie.

You know, if I had another
chance

just to bring a little bit of
him back...

Federal law may be unclear on
the issue of cloning,

but it is the opinion of this
court that it should not be.

We regulate tattoo parlors more
closely than we do sperm banks,

sex-selection labs,
or human-egg farms.

I must say, I am deeply troubled
by what this means

for our society.

However, I do recognize that you
are no threat

to skip your court date,

and out of concern for
Mrs. Hytner and her baby,

I will release you on your own
recognizance.

Oh!

[ Indistinct conversations ]

You have a call.
It's urgent.

The bomb scare's
put her into labor.

She's 6 centimeters dilated,

so we're gonna prepare for a
c-section just in case.

She's only three weeks early.
There shouldn't be any problems.

[ Machine beeping ]

So?

You're here!

And we're on our way.

Oh, god.
[ Laughs ]

[ Sighs ]

It's happening.

Virginia's in labor.
Find out when we can go live.

All right.

[ Moaning ]

That's my girl.
You are doing great, sweetie.

We're almost there.

I can't!

You're doing great, Virginia.
Come on, breathe.

Your sister's right outside.

We're not gonna let her go home
without seeing her niece.

I can't push any harder!

Sure, you can.

I would like
to see you try!

Yeah, it's making moaning
sounds.

B.p. Is 130 over 80.

Fetal rate is not reactive.
Get her out.

She's crowning.
She's crowning!

Okay, Virginia,
one more push!

Give me a big one.

Push! Push! Push!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Yes!

[ Laughs ]

[ Applause ]

Good work, Virginia.

The baby's fine!

[ Cheering ]

[ Laughs ]

Hello.

Today --

well, it was this afternoon,
really --

at 12 minutes past 3:00...

Amy hytner was born.

[ Cheering ]

She is a healthy baby girl!

Both mother and daughter are
doing fine.

[ Reporters shouting questions ]

[ Speaking foreign language ]

[ Speaking foreign language ]

[ Speaking foreign language ]

[ Speaking foreign language ]

At the center for reproductive
medicine,

two babies
were born yesterday.

A boy was the result of in vitro
fertilization,

and a girl whose sex was
preselected by her parents.

And here at the lakeside manor,
a baby girl was born --

Amy Lynn hytner, the world's
first human clone.

No pictures of Amy are
permitted,

but I can tell you...

What do you think
of your niece?

Oh, I can't get over it --

how much
she looks like Katie.

She really does.

I know,
but she isn't Katie.

She's Amy, our darling Amy.

Despite the controversy over
cloning,

the hytners have already
received

lucrative endorsement offers
from national clothing lines

to baby-food producers.

The family has asked
that all other gifts

be sent to shelters
in Amy's name.

This is Linda sanclair
reporting.

A sneaker company called me this
morning.

Well, they clearly haven't seen
your jump shot.

Whoo!

I'll get this stuff
out of the way.

What is this?

This looks like a camera.

I don't
freaking believe this!

The lunatics
are spying on US!

All right, Chris.
All right.

I will go to security.

I'll have them install a metal
detector.

We'll check everything that
comes into the room.

Honey, you okay?

Do I look okay?

I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.

[ Sighs ]

I don't know, I --

it was kind of a novelty at
first, all the attention

and the magazines and then
a Hollywood producer calling.

I was even thinking, "who's
gonna play me?" You know?

I told him Tom Cruise, as long
as I got to play myself.

[ Chuckles ]

Right?

They want to see you.

Me?

Yeah.

Oh, great.

Sorry, alone.

It's cool.

Thanks.

Mm-hmm.

Oh...

[ Laughs ]

Oh, look at her.

She's so tiny.

Would you like to hold her?

No, that's okay.

Oh, go on.
She won't break.

Really?

Sure.

Come sit over here.
You'll be more comfortable.

Thank you.

[ Crowd chanting,
siren wailing ]

Oh...

[ Laughing ]
Oh, thank you.

She's so sweet.

Oh, look at her.

And just light as a feather.

You are.
You're so cute.

Linda?

Yeah?

I-I just --
I want to thank you.

We really appreciate your
helping US get our story out.

You've been a big part of
welcoming Amy into the world.

Well...

I hope so.

She smells so good.

[ Laughs ]

Yeah.

Yes, hello.

Uh...

Virginia...

Virginia, uh, uh --

Amy?

Amy?
Oh, my god.

Doctor?

[ Reporters shouting questions ]

[ Siren wailing ]

[ Machine beeping ]

She's got a respiratory
insufficiency.

R.d.s.?

No definite signs.

What's her white count?

It's normal.
That's what's puzzling.

I've got her on surfactant
for the lungs,

but I don't think
it's doing any good.

What could it be?

What could it be?

You okay?

Linda?

Dan, what started
as a day of celebration

for the hytner family has turned
into a vigil.

About an hour ago, Amy hytner
suddenly stopped breathing

and is now on life support.

Amy is listed in critical
condition

and is in the hospital's
neonatal intensive-care unit.

There are no indications as of
yet that this development

is a result of her
having been cloned,

and her chances for
recovery remain good.

We expect further details
throughout the evening.

Thank you, Linda.

[ Reporters shouting questions ]

♪ Hush-a-bye,
don't you cry ♪

♪ go to sleep, little baby ♪

♪ when you wake,
you shall have ♪

♪ all
the pretty little horses ♪

♪ blacks and bays,
dapples and grays ♪

♪ go to sleep, little baby ♪

Dr. Gordon,
when this is over,

go home,
curl up with your kid,

and hold onto him
for as long as you can.

Tragically,
the child whose birth

captured the attention of the
entire world

now is fighting for her life.

From Rome to London
to red square in Russia,

people are gathering in
churches and parks

and in their homes to lend
their prayers and support

to little Amy hytner and her
parents.

[ Indistinct conversation ]

Our prayers
are with this child.

Although I don't agree with how
she came into this world,

I urge people of conscience the
world over to join in prayer --

doctor, where are
the hytners right now?

That's really nice.
Thanks.

Has her condition changed
at all?

Is Amy still in critical
condition?

Doctor, where is Amy now?

[ Questions stop ]

Good morning.

At 2:15 this morning, Amy hytner
died of respiratory failure.

Her parents have requested there
be no autopsy.

Dr. Gordon, was her death caused
by a genetic defect?

Respiratory failure is not
uncommon in premature infants.

Will you try again?

I continue to believe in the
work we've done.

The justice department
has temporarily put aside

our prosecution
until it has a chance

to review the legislation
in regards to human cloning.

Many scientists believe
that the cures for Alzheimer's,

cancer...

Diabetes...

Will come from cloned tissue
or stem-cell research.

Dr. Gordon?
How are the hytners doing?

Thank you.

I have nothing more to say
at this time.

Doctor, are the hytners
here at the hospital?

Doctor, can we expect
a statement

from the hytners
anytime soon?

Doctor,
are they still here?

[ Siren wailing in distance ]

Dr. Gordon...

Boy, you never give up,
do you?

Do you?

I just want to know
about the hytners.

Leave them alone.
Leave all of US alone.

I want to tell them
how sorry I am.

Well, they don't want
to talk to you!

I don't want
to believe that.

They left early this morning to
avoid the media.

Look, I can't prove that the
stress on Virginia

was responsible
for Amy's death,

but it's my opinion
that it was.

[ Car door opens ]

[ Engine turns over ]

Even in death,

little Amy has had an impact
felt around the world.

Artificial insemination took
decades to be accepted.

In vitro fertilization
took years.

After Amy, the debate about the
way human beings are created

has been given a face --
a child's face.

Amy Lynn hytner lived less than
43 hours.

This is Linda sanclair
reporting

at mercy hospital
in Philadelphia.

On top.
That's it.

[ Horn honks ]

Mom!

Hey!

I'm sorry...
About the baby,

about Amy.

Yeah, me too.

You okay?

Yeah.

Mom, come see what we've been
doing in dad's loft.

Henry wants to turn it into his
room when he visits.

Thanks for stepping in.

I had some fun.

[ Inhales deeply ]

I haven't been exactly fair to
you lately.

There's no reason Henry can't
spend more time here.

We didn't make it,ut we can
still be a family for Henry.

Thanks.

Mom, come on!

I'm coming.
I'm coming.

Wait a minute!
Wait a minute!

Has he finished all of his
homework, everything he missed?

[ Sighs ] I'm not sure.

No, dad, I did!

Really?
I did!

Book report.
Yes.

Math.
Uh-huh.

Everything?
Uh-huh.

Okay, then, you're gonna have a
great time in Colorado.

Okay.
We're going?!

Yeah.

Dad,
we're going to Colorado!

Yes! All right!

Ugh!

[ Chuckles ]

[ Horns honking ]

[ Siren wailing ]

What are you gonna tell
Dan the man?

I told you -- nothing.

10 bucks says you cave.

You're on.

Easy money, Linda.
Easy money.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Dan.

Have you tracked down the
hytners yet?

Uh, no.
No, I haven't.

I've been looking.

I checked phone logs,
real estate,

credit-card transactions --
nothing.

They changed their name.
They just disappeared.

What about the doctor?

She quit the center.

She's not taking any calls
from the press,

and she's not gonna help US.

We're on the air
next Monday.

I'm building a whole segment

around the first anniversary
of Amy's birth.

I need this interview.
Do this for me, Linda.

Of course.

Um...

I-I have one more lead that I
will check out.

It's the sister, so...

[ Talking indistinctly ]

And wait till you see your
birthday cake.

Wait till you see.

There it is!

Let's walk over.
Let's walk over.

Uh, Chris?

What are you doing here?

Linda, please, listen!
We had no choice!

How could you?!

After all these months,

let me somehow believe that it
was my fault!

It was cruel, I'm sorry, but we
had to stop the frenzy.

She was very ill!
She's still very ill!

You think I'm gonna sit on this
story now?

You don't have a story.
You've got a headline.

Is that what you want
for Amy?

You should have trusted me.

Can we trust you now?

[ Ringing ]

Yeah, is Dan Reilly there?
This is Linda sanclair.

Yeah, well, could you give him a
message, please?

Yeah, tell him we will not be
able to get that interview.

Tell him I couldn't find them at
the address I had...

...and that I'm terribly sorry.

[ Click ]

[ Beep ]