The Stranger Who Looks Like Me (1974) - full transcript
A young girl who is looking for the birth parents who gave her up hooks up with a young man who has also been adopted and is looking for his real parents.
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
-Oh, one for me.
-No, you don't get one.
Ah, this is good.
Just give me a hug.
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
Pictures everybody.
The photographer is here!
Four generations!
Blood line in
this picture only!
Over here come
on along, along...
Get over there
around Gramma Dupre.
MAN: Here we go. Here we go.
MAN: Gramma in the middle.
Your mother's family
never stands still.
Half of them will be blurred.
Goodbye, goodbye. No in-laws.
The in-laws are later, later!
All the Dupre's come along.
Go ahead.
No, I kinda stay back when
they say all blood relatives.
-Why, because you're adopted?
-Yeah.
They don't mean you.
You're one of them.
Oh, look at those
faces out there.
JOANNE: They're all from
the same great big tree.
Johnny,
glasses off, glasses off!
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
-PHOTOGRAPHER: Smile.
-MAN: Oh yes.
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Fine, that's good.
One more!
Well, there you are.
Wait a minute.
-All right!
-Will you take the pictures!
You know we'll never be able
to stand still this long.
(ALL TALKING AT ONCE)
GARY: Pick a date and
we'll spring it on these wild
Frenchmen of yours.
JOANNE:
Gary, there's something
I need to do first.
JOANNE: I need to find out
where my own roots go.
I've been writing and calling
for some time now.
But it looks like I'm gonna
have to go out there
to Los Angeles.
See that's where I was born.
And that's where my original
parents might still be living.
-I'd really hoped that
you would understand.
-Yeah.
I have to know how I began.
I mean,
who's responsible for me.
Jo, listen, you began the day
we adopted you.
That's when your life began.
That's when we began.
Our life began.
Dad, I love you both.
JOANNE: But, I...
I need to know who I am.
We can't stop you.
We want you to do what...
-We want you to be happy, Jo.
-MR. DENVER: You know that.
JOANNE: Yeah, I know.
But I can't help being afraid.
Afraid of what?
Of the woman who
gave birth to you.
I've always
been afraid of her,
whoever she is.
I've always felt that she was
out there somewhere.
And now look, she's pulling
you away from us.
JOANNE: No, she's not!
That's me.
That's my need, Mom.
I've always
been afraid of her.
No, that's, ah...
That's not what's happening.
Jo, what's happening?
Nothing has to happen.
MR. DENVER: Nothing at all.
Just make up your
mind that you started...
Your life started the day
that we adopted you.
Forget anything else.
Erase it out of your mind.
I can't.
I'm sorry.
But I can't.
-Your birth certificate.
-Yeah,
it's the only clue I've got.
Except for the agency,
but they haven't
told me anything.
(SIGHS)
All that gives me is the name
of the doctor and the date.
Reminds me of the day we
brought you home.
It's as if you're
erasing 22 years.
Oh, no, Mom!
I'm not doing that.
(BOTH SIGH)
Now look at that
sad face of yours.
Now... Now that's the same
face old Gramma Dupre makes,
when she's feeling bad.
That very same expression.
But, like what about me?
When I, ah...
When I smile, do I
smile like somebody else?
I mean, who...
Whose eyes do I have?
What's my heritage?
You have our heritage, honey.
Your parents
didn't give you one.
You have our heritage.
(SIGHS) This
should be the happiest
time of my life.
I should be planning
my daughter's wedding.
Instead you're telling me
I don't have a daughter.
Mom, I'm...
And I'm not your real mother.
You are my mother.
No, I just raised
you for 22 years.
Fed you, changed your diapers.
Held you when you cried.
Uh... You are my mother.
(WHISPERS) Then don't do this.
Don't try to find her.
I have to.
-JOANNE: Is Mom up, yet?
-MR. DENVER: No.
She fell asleep, finally.
Did you call a cab?
Yeah, it, ah, it should be
here any minute, now.
Oh, good.
(SIGHS) You know, Jo, I...
I still think it's
wrong of you to go.
Well suppose you do find them?
What do you expect, huh?
To be welcomed?
To be embraced? No.
Believe me, there's nothing
for you out there.
Just my roots.
Then what good is that?
I've got roots, you know that.
You know my parents,
my family.
Do you suppose that I could
go there, even today,
and be welcome, huh?
No.
No, it's only here
with your mother's family.
Because we've...
We've got
something very special.
I know.
There's nothing for
you in Los Angeles.
You won't find anything.
Well let me try, huh?
(CAB HONKING)
Wish me luck, Dad.
Wish me luck.
Say goodbye to Mom, for me.
(ENGINE STARTING)
(PLANE WHIRRING)
ANNOUNCER:
Flight 254, departing for
Philadelphia and Washington,
is now boarding at gate 14,
The East Concourse.
Flight 254 departing
for Philadelphia
and Washington,
is now boarding at gate 14,
The East Concourse.
ANNOUNCER:
The white zone is
for immediate loading
and unloading of
passengers only.
No parking.
(ENGINE STARTING)
Operator,
yes, I would like to place
a long distance call, please.
(PHONE RINGING)
-Hello.
-JOANNE:
Hello, Mom, it's me...
(EXCLAIMING)
We were worried.
Are you all right?
Yeah, I'm fine.
How about you and Dad?
MRS. DENVER: We're okay.
Umm, Los Angeles is beautiful.
JOANNA:
Aren't you going to even
ask me about Disneyland?
We want you to
come home, Joanne.
(SIGHS)
Hey, I just got here, ah...
Anyway, I might find out
I'm really a princess
or something, right?
MRS. DENVER: Joanne...
It's hard for me
to talk to you.
All I want to
say is "come home."
Goodbye, Mom.
I'll keep in touch, okay?
Bye.
I'm sorry, the court has
ordered that records be
treated as private matters.
Yeah,
private, yes, between us.
Now that's, that's you,
the natural parents,
the adoptive parents and me.
No, no.
Each party is kept
separated from the other.
We have an agreement.
We've promised anonymity.
Well I'm,
I'm not a child anymore.
I'm about to be married and
I want the facts of my birth.
Well that's
really not possible.
-I'm sorry, but...
-No, it is possible.
Some people have found out.
I've seen half a dozen
of you A.I.S. people,
you do have a point...
Well I,
I'm not A.I.S., or whatever.
I am a law student and I know
that you can find out.
I wish I could help you.
But I can't.
Who is that?
-You mean Miss Denver?
-Should she be
in our file room?
Miss Denver, would you like us
to call the police?
(CLANGING)
Yeah, hello, ah, I'd like
a number please for A.I.S.
No, I, I don't know
what it is. Yeah, A.I.S.
What is it?
Adoptees In Search?
No kidding. Yeah, what is it?
There are more
than five million
of us in the U.S.
Well, that's adoptees!
That's not our membership.
There are literally
thousands of us who
are searching for our parents,
trying to round
out our identities.
So it's only natural we should
organize and help each other.
I started this group.
You're adopted.
Yes, and about to give birth,
as you can see.
So, I asked myself,
"What will this child
inherit from my side?"
The answers are locked
away in sealed files.
CAROL:
That's one of the things
we hope to change.
There are some cases before
the courts now.
We feel it's our
civil right to be told
the particulars of our birth.
CAROL: No more sealed files.
MIKE: Long live the cause.
CAROL: Mike is
a clinical psychologist
and a great help to us,
when we can steal
him away from his work.
Where was I? The garage!
-The garage?
-Well I mean it
was the garage.
Now it's A.I.S. headquarters,
the nerve center,
the command post.
-Hi, Chris.
-Hi.
New member here.
What's her name?
She talks.
Her name is Joanne Denver.
How does it look for her?
Well, she only has her birth
certificate, no name.
Let me see that.
(SIGHS) Doesn't
even list the hospital.
Dr. Joren? That's...
That's not too common,
that's a plus.
I tried the adoption agency,
but they wouldn't help.
What'd you expect?
-Is this it?
-Yeah, that's ah, that's all.
Think I have a chance?
Well, sure.
First hospital you call
could be the right one. Right?
-Right.
-But it won't be, right?
CAROL: Right.
So, if you're serious,
you stick to it.
You know, they treat this
as if it's
classified information,
the bureaucratic idiots.
"I'm sorry I can't help you."
And they always say,
"I'm sorry."
Oh,
you want to get started, huh?
Yeah,
what do we do, pass out guns?
This is very serious
to me, what is to you?
Well, it isn't a war.
There's something that is
my right to have and people
are keeping me from that.
How long have
you been searching?
About eight hours.
Hmm, you figure you'll
give it about a week?
-No,
at least a week and a half.
-Oh, a vacation! Nice, nice.
-Hey, I'm just kidding.
-Come, come to L.
A. see some of the sights,
maybe Disneyland,
maybe you'll run into
old Mom and Dad at Disneyland.
-Yeah, could happen.
-Well sure.
Listen lucky things happen
to people all the time.
I've been at
this for five years.
Look, I'm sorry, don't
fly off at me. You know,
I could be your sister.
Oh, no, no, no.
-You're just a tourist,
passing through.
-No, I'm not.
-Oh, yes.
-No, I'm not.
I've decided
you're not my brother.
-Can I go out this way?
-Yes, but...
Yeah, well I'll
come by tomorrow, okay?
(PHONE RINGING)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Who is it?
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
-Hi!
-Hi.
I just wanted to tell you that
I have a real bad temper.
And that I didn't mean to come
down so hard on you, okay?
Hey, uh,
it's still early and this...
This room keeps
getting smaller.
Pardon?
Well, would you like to go out
for some coffee or something?
I have somebody waiting, ah...
I'm double-parked.
Well bring him. My treat!
It's a girl.
Oh.
-But, ah, some other time.
-Sure, I...
Okay, well...
Thank you for coming by.
-So long.
-Okay.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Who, uh, what?
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Yeah, uh, yeah.
What're you doing?
Well, ah...
I, I was just...
-What're you doing here?
-I didn't have to work today.
So, I thought we'd
get started. You've got
a thousand calls to make.
Oh, right. Well, come on in.
I'll just...
Give me ten minutes, okay?
Don't take too long,
this isn't a vacation.
I know.
Hey, you want to
get some breakfast?
Oh, that depends.
JOANNE: Depends on whether
or not you have a girl
double-parked out there.
(CHUCKLES)
(SIGHS)
Yeah, sometime I'll show you
the house we're
working on now.
I'd like to see it.
It's got some
nice little touches.
(CLEARS THROAT) Sometimes I...
I make my own
changes in the design.
I like to
visualize people living
in the house, especially kids.
And, um...
Oh,
like I'll build little hiding
places for them, you know?
Little private
nooks for them to...
To discover.
That's nice. Did you grow up
in a house like that?
No. No.
My... My adoptive parents got
separated really early,
so I just lived, uh...
All around the place.
Mostly with my
so-called relatives.
-Were they nice?
-No.
Oh.
Neither was I.
Oh.
Hey, Joanne, I've got some
info on some part-time jobs,
if you're interested.
Oh terrific!
Thank you, Louise.
Make a list of
all the hospitals.
I'm gonna look for anybody
with the doctor's name Joren.
Thank you.
For what? You're gonna help me
look all over the country
for the Spauldings.
Who are the Spauldings?
My parents, Alec and Anne.
Their address
listed in the hospital
records was phony.
My father listed his
occupation as a machinist.
Uh, maybe that was phony too,
But, ah, I guess I've called
over 500 factories
and machine shops.
"Did you employ
an Alec Spaulding
25 years ago, wife, Anne.
"If so, please reply
and give me his most
current address."
Hi!
-Hi.
-Hey, I'm sorry I'm late.
Oh, that's okay.
I like watching
people here, anyway.
What're we going to be
doing at the library?
Just checking
through some phone books.
What phone books?
Portland phone book,
Seattle phone book.
We're looking
for the Spauldings,
Alec and Anne.
Spauldings, there are gonna
be a million Spauldings.
There are.
Why couldn't you have
a less common name?
-What would you like?
-I don't know,
Rumplestiltskin?
People-watching in this city
is really something special.
My parents
could still be here.
So, I can't help studying
faces and, and wondering
if I'm looking at one of them.
It's silly.
Not so silly.
Wonder what I'd say to them?
CHRIS: "Remember me?"
JOANNE:
Just say, "Hey look at me.
I'm all right. I made it."
That's right.
Excuse me, you gentlemen
wouldn't happen to be
my father, would you?
No, I don't think you are.
No, no, no.
Well, why did you give me up?
I wouldn't have eaten
that much, you know.
-(CLEARS THROAT)
-You wonder that, too?
Sure.
Listen, my, my parents were
married when I was born.
I know that much.
You know,
when a couple has a baby
it's usually an event, right?
They didn't even take
me back from the hospital.
(SCOFFING) Some event.
Yeah, sure, I wonder why.
Sometimes, sometimes I wonder
maybe she's
looking for me, too.
-Any luck?
-Not yet.
Hello, yes, I would
like to know if there is
or was a Dr. C. Joren
practicing in your hospital.
In obstetrics.
C. Joren.
J-O-R-E-N.
I see, um, what about in
the past? Do your records
go back 22 years?
Yeah, I know,
but this is important.
Well, this is very important.
Well, how about if
I come in and look myself?
(HAMMERING)
-Hi.
-Hi.
-Oh, thank you.
-Yeah.
(CLEARS THROAT)
A letter came for you at
A.I.S., and Carol thought it
might be important, so...
So, how do you like the house?
Well,
it has a very open feeling.
Plenty of air, you know.
It's a good house.
I'm sure it is.
Do you like
the smell of new wood?
Mmm-hmm.
(CLEARS THROAT) I'm not gonna
use any paint or
stain on it, you know.
I'm just gonna
leave it natural so
that the wood can breathe.
-It's better that way.
-Yeah, it's a good idea.
I think if I wasn't
doing this for a living,
I'd probably do it for fun.
-(LAUGHS) Would you?
-Yeah.
You, uh, built
a house for yourself yet?
No, I think that's
more for families,
you know.
Thanks for
bringing the letter.
Oh, yes, I forgot.
No, go ahead.
You, you open it.
Swanson's Tool and Die.
Uh, dear Mr. Schroeder,
our records show we employed
an Alec Spaulding...
From 1947 to 1958.
Wife's name,
Anne, no children.
Address:
49 Dalton Lane, San Diego.
(SIGHS)
(SIGHS)
Chris, that's fantastic!
CHRIS: You're gonna come
with me, aren't you?
Yeah.
(CAR DOOR OPENING)
Hello.
-Hi.
-Excuse me, uh...
Does a man named
Spaulding live here?
Nope.
That's the man I
bought the house from.
His name was Spaulding.
-When was that?
Oh,
it's been 15 or 20 years ago.
Do you know where he is?
What city?
I don't know.
Is, ah, is there anybody
around here that might know?
Oh, I don't think any of these
people were here then.
Did you know Spaulding?
I only met him once or twice.
Well, what does he look like?
Oh, he was, uh, dark.
And kind of husky,
as I remember.
And, and his wife?
Well, I can't really...
I can't get a picture of her.
I'm usually
pretty good at that,
but it's been a long time ago.
Did he ever mention a son?
No,
it was just he and his wife,
as far as I remember.
(DOG BARKING)
He used to live here, sort of.
Oh, maybe you'd like to just
walk through the place?
Come on, come on.
If you'll excuse me
for just a minute,
I'll be right with you.
They lived here
when I was born.
1948.
They must've gone up to L. A.
to have me and
then they, uh...
Came back here.
It's a funny
feeling being here.
(SIGHS)
Knowing that, uh...
She was here with me
when she was pregnant.
Just sitting there...
Looking at the walls,
looking out the window.
Just sitting there.
Oh, you know,
this is my favorite room.
This dining room.
You know, that Spaulding
did all these built-ins.
All this wood trim.
-He did this?
-Yes.
He did, uh...
All the...
All this by himself?
It's pretty good work.
So...
One day...
Maybe while he was working
on the house,
and she was
looking out the window...
(SIGHS) They
decided not to keep me.
I wish they hadn't
decided to do that.
(CRYING)
(CRYING)
The idea of this meeting
is to get other
points of view.
Let Mrs. Quayle finish.
And so, you're trying to
find... Trying to find
your real parents.
What are you trying to find
from your real parents?
You said the same thing.
What is it that
you really want
from your real parents?
It's just to touch.
To see that person,
to ask why.
Um, I don't wanna...
You mean to ask why,
because they made a mistake?
And to know...
And to put them down,
in other words, right?
No, no, I don't wanna do that.
I have a dreadful
fear of doing that.
Uh, I do,
I don't wanna push them away
by approaching them hostilely
or to make them defensive.
I...
Did you ever think they
might have done it
-for your well-being,
for the best for you?
-(CHRIS SCOFFS)
That's unbelievable.
-Well it's...
-Why is that unbelievable?
Why?
I mean if you're not equipped,
at that time, emotionally...
To open the door and walk
out of the house is, uh...
-It's not opening...
-That's helping somehow,
right?
It's not opening the door
and walking out, not at all.
-MIKE: Chris...
-Good luck to you.
MIKE: Chris,
what would you think if
somebody knocked on your door
and opened it,
without you saying "Come in"?
You happen to be looking
for your real parents.
What if you were satisfied
and they were
searching you out?
Would you want
your own privacy?
I don't understand what you...
MIKE: Well, you're
searching for someone...
You're searching,
you're searching, right?
WOMAN:
There's something else...
MIKE: I'm trying to understand
another point of view.
Are you always trying to
understand
another point of view?
MIKE: Exactly.
You're very
emotional about it, Chris,
and I guess you have had
a bad experience someplace.
Two things I'd like to say...
Number one, I really kind of
object to the use of
the word "real parent,"
in relation to
the birth parents.
Uh,
the real parents are people
like me and my husband.
-And we've just
adopted a baby.
-Yeah, okay.
I'm their parent.
Ah, the other, you know,
the other people
are birth parents
and it's true,
they cannot be denied.
But I'm the parent.
And I would like to feel that
my relationship
with my child...
If my child grows up and is in
the position that
some of you are in
and wants to find
the birth parents,
will not wipe out
or eradicate what
we have been to each other.
Or what we will be
as a family.
JOANNE:
That's terrific in theory...
CHRIS:
Can I say one thing about...
Uh, there's a lot of guilt
pressure put on you.
Uh, personally speaking,
I guess,
I didn't want to make this
into a personal forum.
My parents made me feel
very guilty about wanting
to come and look.
And I feel like there's
a terrible gap there,
now, because of that.
And, uh, it's not taking
anything away from them.
It's not negating any kind
of life we've had together.
You're looking for something
they can't give you.
They can't give
you who had you.
They can't give you biological
identity or whatever else
you want to call it.
It's like a great
big question mark.
And you go and you try and
find out, and everybody says,
"Well, it's personal,
"they're sealed files."
Well I'm personal.
-I'm the personal part,
you know that's...
-MAN: Right, I hate it.
I'm the one, you know.
And I have to live with that
question mark, you know.
Who the hell am I?
I, I, I!
You talk about your guilt.
What kind of,
I'll use the word, pain,
is felt by
the adopted parents?
MIKE: Are you concerned
with what they feel?
Or is your concern
much more important?
No, I'm concerned.
I'm concerned,
but I think you're saying,
that what I need to know is
not important because
you take it for granted.
Because you take for granted
all the things that I need to
know for one instant.
I can forget them again.
I can not tell someone.
I have to give them that pain,
because I must
get rid of my own.
-I need...
-MAN: That's small.
I can't see any
reason to inflict pain.
WOMAN:
You haven't felt it, Michael.
That's I, I, I, again.
It's I, I, I when you're
talking about you,
when all I can
talk about is I, I, I!
That's what I feel,
you don't feel it, Michael.
You're not adopted.
You can see it,
but you cannot feel it.
Yes, this is upsetting
me terribly, because, uh...
Since we've had the baby
such a short time,
but we feel so
close to the situation.
You know, there's so much
feeling pouring out.
And you think of
devoting your energy
and your time and your love,
and then the kid grows up...
-And all of a sudden...
-WOMAN: They don't go away.
They don't go away because
they're looking for
a biological parent.
Well, that doesn't make them
go away from you.
It's not a threat to you.
Maybe I can't understand
that at this moment...
(ALL TALKING AT ONCE)
It just terrifies me.
I think part of the problem is
that we're really in
a transition period.
You know, we're coming into a
time where
things are changing.
And this is,
this is an example
of how things are changing.
The laws and the mores that
prevailed before
were quite different.
Adoption, the whole question
of adoption was a big secret.
Everything is being opened up
more in this society and
adoption is part of that.
And I think this kind
of thing is healthy.
I personally don't feel...
I don't share your feeling
of being threatened.
At least I don't, right now.
You know, I don't know how
I'll feel when
my baby grows up,
and maybe puts
the hard question...
You kinda have everything
all kinda together?
WOMAN:
Nope, not right, now I do.
You're feeling
really comfortable, right?
-WOMAN:
Right now, my baby's little.
-Are you now?
-She's trying.
-WOMAN: Now, wait a minute.
-Wait a minute,
I just want to finish.
-I... I don't like this.
Let me just finish my point.
I was gonna say,
okay so you're looking.
And even if you, you find
the person and even if you,
if you have a relationship,
or if you don't,
or if they throw you out or
they don't want to see you.
Okay,
so maybe you have to do that.
-Maybe you have to...
-Now, don't just...
Don't just toss
things off like that,
I mean, you know...
Maybe they'll wanna see you,
maybe they won't, I mean...
She's not
suffering for it, you are.
But she, she's for you.
She's saying she understands.
If you're suffering for it,
you've gotta do something
about it,
that's what she said.
(ALL TALKING AT ONCE)
-Michael!
-MICHAEL: Yes, yes, yes.
It's like,
all of us are getting
so angry about everything,
and getting so upset about it.
But, the point and the reason
why we're upset
is because even
no matter what
your reasons are.
No matter how much we go,
"I, I, I,"
we're not allowed to.
And that's why
everyone's getting so upset.
That's why it has
to be "I, I, I,"
cause there's no we.
Exactly.
I mean, I found out I was I
was adopted and it didn't
bother me that much.
And I thought, "Okay, I'll
find my parents. Do it." And
you find out you can't do it.
I seem to be the bad one here.
Because I'm a mother who gave
up her child for adoption.
-MAN: Why'd...
-WOMAN: That doesn't
make you a bad guy.
I don't know.
-MAN: Why'd you do that?
-WOMAN: I think it's
an unknown quantity.
Well, I couldn't at the time.
-I, I...
-MAN: Couldn't what?
I couldn't take
care of the child.
MAN: Do you have any regrets?
WOMAN: Would you want
to see the child, now?
No, no.
It would be a stranger.
Listen, I can understand.
I can understand you having
a really hard life, you know.
-And having not...
-I didn't say that.
I didn't say that.
Well you said that it, that
it was impossible for you
to keep your child.
I would guess that would
mean that you had...
I said that I, myself was not
emotionally equipped at that
time to take care of a child.
That somebody else could
do it better than I could.
Okay, so you give up then,
the responsibility of...
-And take on a lot of guilt,
at that time...
-Of this child.
Okay,
whatever, you know guilt.
-You know,
that's a whole other story.
-WOMAN: Oh, that's not fair.
But, wait a second, now.
Just let me, just let
me get the thought out.
I mean you say,
I can understand you
giving up the responsibility,
but then you,
you, you also deny the birth.
It's, as if you must have
made some
adjustment in your head...
WOMAN: Now, wait a minute.
That, that person just wasn't!
JOANNE:
I want to ask you something.
And I don't wanna put
a guilt thing on you
or make you feel bad
or defensive about it.
Don't you wonder...
Ah, you say you don't,
you don't want
to see the child.
WOMAN: Don't you want
to look at her once?
Just look at her face, once?
I feel that so strongly in me
for wanting to see my
parents so very much.
Ah, how can...
And I, I guess I feel I want
that on the other side, too.
I think you should be aware
that, in essence, this is
a projection on your part.
Your wanting to see and, uh...
That, I think,
is the basic problem.
Projecting your needs and
your wants, and your fears
onto another person...
Who gave birth to you
and has given that up.
And wishes to remain private.
Ah, I know it's
uncomfortable for you here.
And, ah, it's like you know,
any one of us could have
been your child.
But going back to what
Michael said about projecting,
which I don't think I'm doing,
isn't there
an ounce of instinct,
a grain of instinct that
makes you want to once
look at your child
in the eyes.
Just once,
now, when she's grown up?
I could be your daughter.
I wish you were my mother.
I wish you were my mother.
It's not that bad, is it?
That's all I want, is this.
I mean you could be my mother,
and it wouldn't be that bad.
We could just sit and talk
and look at each other,
like now.
I'm sorry, I just...
I would like to know my
mother's reaction
if someone went to her
and asked her that.
Probably very like my own.
It doesn't alter the fact that
I'm obviously not your mother.
Uh,
I had a boy child, and uh...
If I was not
equipped to, to raise you...
Then I shouldn't
have raised you.
And I felt it was right.
Oh, oh!
Hey, why don't you shut up,
you know, I wonder about you.
If you did find your parents,
what would happen?
I wonder what would happen
with you, because I think
you're obsessed.
I don't think it would
change anything in you.
(GASPS)
I don't want you to feel like
we, we're beating up on you,
or anything.
It's just that...
It's like, you're on one side
of a big file cabinet and
we're on the other side.
And somehow we both want
to talk to each
other somewhere inside.
And they won't let us.
So don't, don't feel like
we're beating up on you.
And if you've been frustrated
as long as Chris,
that's a lot of phone calls.
Well, I go back to
my original premise,
that all of you are looking
possibly for something else.
Good morning!
Joanne, you have a note.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, my...
(LAUGHS) She found it!
Ah, Carol did some telephoning
for me and, and she found
the hospital I was born in!
-WOMAN 1: Terrific!
Congratulations!
-WOMAN 2: Marvelous.
WOMAN ON PA: Dr. Kaufman,
telephone please. Dr. Kaufman.
Dr. Weitz,
telephone please. Dr. Weitz.
Mrs. Weiner?
That's me.
I'm Joanne Denver.
You told me to
be here at noon.
Mmm, you're ten minutes early.
Luckily today's meatloaf
day in the cafeteria,
and I always eat
lunch at my desk
on meatloaf day.
So, if you'll just give me
one minute to digest,
I'll be right with you.
What do you need?
The records of my birth here,
22 years ago.
Yeah? You two getting married?
Well, yes. It's supposed
to be a secret.
-Congratulations.
-Thank you.
She's lovely.
Yeah, she is, isn't she?
Now,
your name is Denver?
Well, actually I have...
I have the date and
the time of birth,
and the doctor's name,
and if you could supply me
with the name of the parent,
or parents and an address...
Oh, you're adopted?
JOANNE: Yes.
Well, then, we can't
examine the records.
CHRIS: Wait a minute. Listen.
You can examine the records...
I'm going to the cafeteria,
and don't say
anything about the meatloaf.
Well, you'll hate it.
Just once, would you let me
approach it with an open mind?
(CHRIS CLEARING THROAT)
It's dry. He'll hate it.
There's no law that
says she can't have
the facts of her birth.
Can't I at least have a name?
I really can't do it.
I'm sorry.
Well, you see, he won't marry
me unless we can find
out my real last name.
Well, then he's not worth it,
honey, believe me.
CHRIS: You're not gonna
give her the name, right?
MRS. WEINER:
I told you, I'm sorry.
Come on.
Why'd you let her off so easy?
Because I may
want to come back
and try again.
And if you're
gonna make her mad,
she's never gonna help. Right?
(SIGHS) "I'm sorry," she says.
She could care less. Come on.
Hey, wait a minute.
There's someone I
want to talk to.
Would you wait for me?
They don't give a damn.
Oh, will you wait?
Okay. I'll wait in the car.
WOMAN ON PA: Dr. Warner,
maternity please. Dr. Warner.
Miss Hampton,
telephone please.
Miss Hampton.
Hello.
Don't look up.
Just... Just
pretend we're not talking.
You've been
chosen by your country
to perform a secret mission.
I've been waiting for
this moment all my life.
Shh!
Sorry.
Do you have
a name or a number?
That's your mission,
to find out my name.
It's in the hospital records.
Is this a test?
No.
Well,
you've got to know your name.
I'm adopted.
I'll give you this.
It has my birth date,
and the time,
and the name of the doctor.
Now,
you tell me everything else
that's in the records. Okay?
(SIGHING)
It's not so simple.
Did you think being
a secret agent was easy?
(BOB CHUCKLES)
This is very important
to my country, right?
It's very important.
Meatloaf was dry, wasn't it?
I haven't eaten it yet.
It'll be dry.
BOB: Got a pencil?
Oh, yeah.
Only one name was listed.
Your mother's. (CLEARS THROAT)
Emma Verko.
Verko?
BOB: V-E-R-K-O.
Address.
West Wheeler Drive,
Los Angeles.
How did I do?
Your country's
very proud of you.
Good luck, Miss Verko.
Thank you.
My name is Verko,
and I have an address,
my mother's address.
Let's go see if she's home.
CHRIS: This is 820,
West Wheeler Drive.
Maybe it was
East Wheeler Drive.
That's a park.
There's
a telephone booth, come on.
There's about a dozen Verkos,
but I don't see an Emma.
Let's start at the top.
What are you going to say?
-WOMAN: Hello.
-Hello.
Hi. (CLEARS THROAT) I'm new
in town and my
name is Verko, too.
And I was just wondering if,
you know, we might be related.
And do you know an Emma Verko?
-WOMAN: Emma?
-Mmm-hmm.
WOMAN: No.
All right, thank you. Goodbye.
No, wait. Call after 5:00,
so you get people home.
And make sure you
call from A.I.S.
Well,
there aren't that many left.
Well, there was at
least a dozen there.
And there's probably
more in the valley. Come on.
Take your time.
Enjoy the moment.
You got the name
you started with.
Yeah. Verko.
Verko...
Well, it's not as bad
as Spaulding. Come on!
-It's not as common, anyway.
-No.
What do you think that is?
Is that Slavic?
Could be.
So you know you're
half Yugoslavian,
you know your
mother's name is Emma.
That's not bad for one day.
Do you think
maybe I have people in Europe?
Sure!
Probably a town.
-Verko, Yugoslavia.
-Oh.
No, your father's the mayor.
They're gonna
have a big parade
for you when you arrive.
You'll probably get
the key to the city.
Hello.
You're early this morning.
You make any coffee?
Hey, what's wrong?
It's a dead end.
There's no trace of
them after San Diego.
So, it's back to the library,
right?
More cities, more
phone calls, more letters.
I'll help you.
CHRIS: Help yourself.
So, what are you
gonna do then, just stop?
They're stopping me.
People who act
as if my adoption
is a state secret.
A lawyer who's protecting
my records as if they were
classified information.
I'm not trying to
steal something.
I just want to find somebody!
I wanna
just find out how I
got all screwed up.
I wanna
know why they gave me away.
What about this lawyer?
Can we go talk to him again?
Talk to him? I've begged him!
I...
I practically threatened him.
I broke his door down.
Well, let's try again.
Come on. I'll go with you.
Hey! Come on.
Tourist.
-Hello.
-Hi.
-A new lady.
-Yeah.
Did the dragon retire?
Did you want to see Mr.
Gilbert?
No.
I just need some information.
Uh... Mr. Gilbert helped
my parents with a matter
about 25 years ago.
Anne and Alec Spaulding.
And, I just thought maybe
you might be able
to find it for me.
SECRETARY:
Twenty-five years ago?
Mmm-hmm. An adoption.
Well,
I don't know, but I'll check.
If the records aren't here,
they're probably
in our file room.
Oh, Gloria...
Yes, I'm trying to
find some records
for Mr. Spaulding.
Do you know
where they might be?
Last time, I told you
never to come back here.
He's only asking
for one piece of information.
No.
Nobody cares
about this but me.
I care about doing my job.
I care about people
bursting in here
and threatening me.
I should've called
the police the last time.
Oh, well... Well, go ahead!
If this man ever
comes in here again...
No, no, no. I think you
ought to call the police,
right away
'cause I'm a real
dangerous person.
I might hurt somebody.
This is my office.
I pay rent on this place.
Yeah, right, the world
would stop if you showed me
the records, right?
-You have no right
to those records!
-Yes, I do!
Just who do you think you are?
(SHOUTING) I don't know!
All right, let's go. Out!
-(JOANNE GASPING)
-Don't do that!
-(GASPING)
-Chris!
Chris.
Chris. Wait!
(JOANNE CRYING OUT)
Do you hit out at everybody?
I'm sorry.
Do you blame
everything on being adopted?
You take it all and you
hang it on that one hook,
it's gonna kill you.
-(SHOUTING) It is a hook!
-No, it's a crutch.
It's just an excuse.
It's gonna kill you.
I don't wanna hear it anymore.
(DOOR SLAMMING)
-Goodnight, Chris.
-Goodnight, Chris.
Um... My name is Joanne Verko.
And,
I'm tracing my family tree,
and I was wondering
if you know of an Emma Verko.
Hello, Mrs. Verko?
Hi. My name
happens to be Verko, too.
And I'm tracing my
family tree, sort of,
and I was just wondering,
do you know an Emma Verko?
Uh-huh.
Oh, your husband might know?
Well, fine, thanks.
I'll call back then.
(CLEARING THROAT)
-MAN: Hello?
-Mr. Verko?
-Yes.
-Hi.
My name happens to be Verko,
too, and I'm sort of
looking for my family tree.
And I was wondering,
do you happen to know
anyone named Emma Verko?
-What's your name?
-Chris.
-Chris, huh?
-Mmm-hmm.
What's your dad's name?
Why, do you know Emma?
Yeah, I... I know Emma.
Emma's my sister.
But I don't remember a Chris.
Where does your
sister live now?
She's living in Pasadena.
You think we're related?
-Yeah, just a minute.
-Uh...
Well now... My father has
a cousin, name of Emma.
That's all I know.
What did you say
your father's name was?
John.
No, no. No,
I'm sorry. I don't know...
Now, tell me,
is Emma still Emma Verko?
No. She's married now.
Her name is Emma Cutler.
Now, 20 years ago,
she lived in Los Angeles,
right?
Uh-huh.
And she has moved
to Ridgeton Street?
That's 409.
West Ridgeton, uh-huh.
Hey, thank you very much.
(SQUEALS EXCITEDLY)
Sure you don't
want to call first?
No.
Know what you're going to say?
I'm a... I'm a distant cousin,
or I'm selling magazines.
I just want to be with her
for a while, you know.
This is Ridgeton Street.
There it is.
You're anxious just
to look at her, right?
That's what I want to do.
Just stare.
For about a day.
Yeah, I want to look at her.
I want to ask her
about my father.
And I want to
touch her, you know?
Just...
Touch her.
Yes?
Uh... Are you Emma Cutler?
Yes.
Well, what do you want?
Um... I'm Joanne Denver.
But I... But I'm adopted,
and I've wanted
for a long time...
I've just wanted to meet you.
How old are you?
I was born May 10, 1952,
Saint Agnes Hospital.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...
I didn't mean to
shock you like that.
What do you want?
I just wanted to meet you.
To... To see you.
And I'd like to know about me.
I... I couldn't help it.
I couldn't keep you.
I understand.
You see, I was...
I wasn't married.
Please, you... You don't
have to go into all of that.
I mean, it was the only thing
I could do. Believe me.
I do, I really do.
I'm sorry.
I... I didn't come here to...
To make you feel...
Nowadays, it's different.
See, I know that.
It's different.
I mean, a single woman
can keep a child.
They're very open about it.
(SIGHING) But...
It wasn't like that for me.
I understand.
I did the best
I could for you.
It was for you, believe me.
You look nice.
So do you.
How did you find me?
It wasn't easy,
I guess I was just lucky.
Lucky?
Can you tell me
something about my father?
Look,
somebody gave
you a life, right?
You have parents?
It... It's been
a good life. Nice people.
Fine. Fine.
Then you ask them
anything you want
to about their lives.
Not me. Not me.
See, I don't have
to tell you something
I don't like to remember.
That's...
That's why I let you go.
Understand?
I didn't like my life then,
and I wanted to
forget about it.
And I have forgotten about it.
Now, what do you want from me?
Why did you come here?
I'm sorry that's
such a bad memory.
It's a bad memory.
And I haven't forgotten it.
None of it.
(TEARFULLY) Why did you come
looking for me?
I had...
I had to see what
you looked like.
And I had to
know what happened.
I got pregnant and the man
wouldn't marry me,
that's what happened.
What was his name?
I don't want to
think about him.
I mean, he didn't want me.
He didn't want you.
So what was I supposed to do?
I wanted a chance
you know, to get married.
And, with
an illegitimate child,
you know...
Well, that wouldn't
have been very good
for either one of us. So...
And I was right.
See, I was right.
-You did okay, didn't you?
-Yeah.
See. Better than I
could've done for you.
So, I was right, what I did.
Are these your children?
Yes.
My husband knows about you.
But the kids don't.
And I...
I don't want them to know.
And I don't want my husband
to know that you were here.
(TEARFULLY) All right.
All right, Emma.
And you won't come
back again, will you?
No.
Not if you don't want me to.
I'm sorry you
were disappointed.
Oh, I wasn't disappointed.
That's all it was, you know.
That's...
Listen,
I don't want you to think
I was some kind of a tramp.
No, I don't think that.
That's all there is to tell.
(CHUCKLES HALF-HEARTEDLY)
I can't even think.
I can't believe
you're standing there,
and I'm talking to you.
-I know.
-(SOBBING)
Emma.
Did you ever
have a name for me?
You go.
Okay? Please!
(SOBBING) Please! Please!
Carolyn.
(CRYING)
-(CRYING)
-Aw...
-Come on.
-ATTENDANT: Hi. How are you?
WOMAN ON PA:
Passenger Warren Travers,
flight 728, please pick up
the white courtesy telephone.
Passenger Warren Travers,
flight 728, please pick up
the white courtesy telephone.
I want to be here when you
find what you want.
Get your law degree.
Was it worth it?
All the hunting?
She... She didn't give me
what I was hoping she would,
but she sure
took something away.
That...
That question, that takes up
a lot of space, you know.
And that's gone,
so I guess that's...
That's worthwhile.
Well, keep in touch.
I'll phone.
No, no, no.
You just write to me.
Save your money.
I'll start
a letter on the plane.
I've got a lot to say.
I'm not going to let you
get away from me for
very long, you know.
Oh, good. (CHUCKLES)
I'm nervous about going home.
Are your parents
going to meet you?
No, I didn't call them.
I... I wouldn't know
what to say to them.
You sure you want to go home?
Yeah. I want to be welcomed.
I want to be hugged hello.
I just don't know
how they feel about it.
You better... You better call.
I'll wait for you here.
WOMAN ON PA: Attention,
last call for boarding all
passengers for flight...
-Hello.
-Hello, Dad.
Hey, Jo! (CHUCKLING)
God, it's good to hear you.
How are you?
It's Joanne, honey, come here.
I'm fine.
It's good to hear you, too.
Yeah, well, listen,
we've been
thinking a lot about you.
We only had two letters.
I'm finished here.
You're finished?
That's wonderful!
When are you coming?
Listen, you better
talk to your mother.
When are you coming home?
Hi, Mom. I'm getting
on the plane now,
so it it'll be...
She's coming now.
What time do you arrive?
About 6:00.
We'll meet you.
Jo, we're glad.
Yeah, me too.
Okay,
honey, we'll see you soon.
Okay. Bye.
♪ How far I've come
♪ The miles and years
♪ Turn the light from my eyes
♪ That the past
can still be found
♪ When the truth
has rolled around
♪ And I'll be home
♪ When old love's lost
♪ Like patient smiles
♪ Come alive one last time
♪ When the lock accepts my key
♪ When
a stranger laughs like me
♪ Then I'll be home
♪ Each of us alone
♪ Must choose a path
to bring us all together
♪ Share the love we've known
♪ And understand
the loves who walk away
♪ My mother's eyes
♪ My father's smile
♪ Shed their sweet life on me
♪ When my voice
and voices past
♪ Sing in harmony at last
♪ Then I'll be home ♪
-Oh, one for me.
-No, you don't get one.
Ah, this is good.
Just give me a hug.
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
Pictures everybody.
The photographer is here!
Four generations!
Blood line in
this picture only!
Over here come
on along, along...
Get over there
around Gramma Dupre.
MAN: Here we go. Here we go.
MAN: Gramma in the middle.
Your mother's family
never stands still.
Half of them will be blurred.
Goodbye, goodbye. No in-laws.
The in-laws are later, later!
All the Dupre's come along.
Go ahead.
No, I kinda stay back when
they say all blood relatives.
-Why, because you're adopted?
-Yeah.
They don't mean you.
You're one of them.
Oh, look at those
faces out there.
JOANNE: They're all from
the same great big tree.
Johnny,
glasses off, glasses off!
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
-PHOTOGRAPHER: Smile.
-MAN: Oh yes.
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Fine, that's good.
One more!
Well, there you are.
Wait a minute.
-All right!
-Will you take the pictures!
You know we'll never be able
to stand still this long.
(ALL TALKING AT ONCE)
GARY: Pick a date and
we'll spring it on these wild
Frenchmen of yours.
JOANNE:
Gary, there's something
I need to do first.
JOANNE: I need to find out
where my own roots go.
I've been writing and calling
for some time now.
But it looks like I'm gonna
have to go out there
to Los Angeles.
See that's where I was born.
And that's where my original
parents might still be living.
-I'd really hoped that
you would understand.
-Yeah.
I have to know how I began.
I mean,
who's responsible for me.
Jo, listen, you began the day
we adopted you.
That's when your life began.
That's when we began.
Our life began.
Dad, I love you both.
JOANNE: But, I...
I need to know who I am.
We can't stop you.
We want you to do what...
-We want you to be happy, Jo.
-MR. DENVER: You know that.
JOANNE: Yeah, I know.
But I can't help being afraid.
Afraid of what?
Of the woman who
gave birth to you.
I've always
been afraid of her,
whoever she is.
I've always felt that she was
out there somewhere.
And now look, she's pulling
you away from us.
JOANNE: No, she's not!
That's me.
That's my need, Mom.
I've always
been afraid of her.
No, that's, ah...
That's not what's happening.
Jo, what's happening?
Nothing has to happen.
MR. DENVER: Nothing at all.
Just make up your
mind that you started...
Your life started the day
that we adopted you.
Forget anything else.
Erase it out of your mind.
I can't.
I'm sorry.
But I can't.
-Your birth certificate.
-Yeah,
it's the only clue I've got.
Except for the agency,
but they haven't
told me anything.
(SIGHS)
All that gives me is the name
of the doctor and the date.
Reminds me of the day we
brought you home.
It's as if you're
erasing 22 years.
Oh, no, Mom!
I'm not doing that.
(BOTH SIGH)
Now look at that
sad face of yours.
Now... Now that's the same
face old Gramma Dupre makes,
when she's feeling bad.
That very same expression.
But, like what about me?
When I, ah...
When I smile, do I
smile like somebody else?
I mean, who...
Whose eyes do I have?
What's my heritage?
You have our heritage, honey.
Your parents
didn't give you one.
You have our heritage.
(SIGHS) This
should be the happiest
time of my life.
I should be planning
my daughter's wedding.
Instead you're telling me
I don't have a daughter.
Mom, I'm...
And I'm not your real mother.
You are my mother.
No, I just raised
you for 22 years.
Fed you, changed your diapers.
Held you when you cried.
Uh... You are my mother.
(WHISPERS) Then don't do this.
Don't try to find her.
I have to.
-JOANNE: Is Mom up, yet?
-MR. DENVER: No.
She fell asleep, finally.
Did you call a cab?
Yeah, it, ah, it should be
here any minute, now.
Oh, good.
(SIGHS) You know, Jo, I...
I still think it's
wrong of you to go.
Well suppose you do find them?
What do you expect, huh?
To be welcomed?
To be embraced? No.
Believe me, there's nothing
for you out there.
Just my roots.
Then what good is that?
I've got roots, you know that.
You know my parents,
my family.
Do you suppose that I could
go there, even today,
and be welcome, huh?
No.
No, it's only here
with your mother's family.
Because we've...
We've got
something very special.
I know.
There's nothing for
you in Los Angeles.
You won't find anything.
Well let me try, huh?
(CAB HONKING)
Wish me luck, Dad.
Wish me luck.
Say goodbye to Mom, for me.
(ENGINE STARTING)
(PLANE WHIRRING)
ANNOUNCER:
Flight 254, departing for
Philadelphia and Washington,
is now boarding at gate 14,
The East Concourse.
Flight 254 departing
for Philadelphia
and Washington,
is now boarding at gate 14,
The East Concourse.
ANNOUNCER:
The white zone is
for immediate loading
and unloading of
passengers only.
No parking.
(ENGINE STARTING)
Operator,
yes, I would like to place
a long distance call, please.
(PHONE RINGING)
-Hello.
-JOANNE:
Hello, Mom, it's me...
(EXCLAIMING)
We were worried.
Are you all right?
Yeah, I'm fine.
How about you and Dad?
MRS. DENVER: We're okay.
Umm, Los Angeles is beautiful.
JOANNA:
Aren't you going to even
ask me about Disneyland?
We want you to
come home, Joanne.
(SIGHS)
Hey, I just got here, ah...
Anyway, I might find out
I'm really a princess
or something, right?
MRS. DENVER: Joanne...
It's hard for me
to talk to you.
All I want to
say is "come home."
Goodbye, Mom.
I'll keep in touch, okay?
Bye.
I'm sorry, the court has
ordered that records be
treated as private matters.
Yeah,
private, yes, between us.
Now that's, that's you,
the natural parents,
the adoptive parents and me.
No, no.
Each party is kept
separated from the other.
We have an agreement.
We've promised anonymity.
Well I'm,
I'm not a child anymore.
I'm about to be married and
I want the facts of my birth.
Well that's
really not possible.
-I'm sorry, but...
-No, it is possible.
Some people have found out.
I've seen half a dozen
of you A.I.S. people,
you do have a point...
Well I,
I'm not A.I.S., or whatever.
I am a law student and I know
that you can find out.
I wish I could help you.
But I can't.
Who is that?
-You mean Miss Denver?
-Should she be
in our file room?
Miss Denver, would you like us
to call the police?
(CLANGING)
Yeah, hello, ah, I'd like
a number please for A.I.S.
No, I, I don't know
what it is. Yeah, A.I.S.
What is it?
Adoptees In Search?
No kidding. Yeah, what is it?
There are more
than five million
of us in the U.S.
Well, that's adoptees!
That's not our membership.
There are literally
thousands of us who
are searching for our parents,
trying to round
out our identities.
So it's only natural we should
organize and help each other.
I started this group.
You're adopted.
Yes, and about to give birth,
as you can see.
So, I asked myself,
"What will this child
inherit from my side?"
The answers are locked
away in sealed files.
CAROL:
That's one of the things
we hope to change.
There are some cases before
the courts now.
We feel it's our
civil right to be told
the particulars of our birth.
CAROL: No more sealed files.
MIKE: Long live the cause.
CAROL: Mike is
a clinical psychologist
and a great help to us,
when we can steal
him away from his work.
Where was I? The garage!
-The garage?
-Well I mean it
was the garage.
Now it's A.I.S. headquarters,
the nerve center,
the command post.
-Hi, Chris.
-Hi.
New member here.
What's her name?
She talks.
Her name is Joanne Denver.
How does it look for her?
Well, she only has her birth
certificate, no name.
Let me see that.
(SIGHS) Doesn't
even list the hospital.
Dr. Joren? That's...
That's not too common,
that's a plus.
I tried the adoption agency,
but they wouldn't help.
What'd you expect?
-Is this it?
-Yeah, that's ah, that's all.
Think I have a chance?
Well, sure.
First hospital you call
could be the right one. Right?
-Right.
-But it won't be, right?
CAROL: Right.
So, if you're serious,
you stick to it.
You know, they treat this
as if it's
classified information,
the bureaucratic idiots.
"I'm sorry I can't help you."
And they always say,
"I'm sorry."
Oh,
you want to get started, huh?
Yeah,
what do we do, pass out guns?
This is very serious
to me, what is to you?
Well, it isn't a war.
There's something that is
my right to have and people
are keeping me from that.
How long have
you been searching?
About eight hours.
Hmm, you figure you'll
give it about a week?
-No,
at least a week and a half.
-Oh, a vacation! Nice, nice.
-Hey, I'm just kidding.
-Come, come to L.
A. see some of the sights,
maybe Disneyland,
maybe you'll run into
old Mom and Dad at Disneyland.
-Yeah, could happen.
-Well sure.
Listen lucky things happen
to people all the time.
I've been at
this for five years.
Look, I'm sorry, don't
fly off at me. You know,
I could be your sister.
Oh, no, no, no.
-You're just a tourist,
passing through.
-No, I'm not.
-Oh, yes.
-No, I'm not.
I've decided
you're not my brother.
-Can I go out this way?
-Yes, but...
Yeah, well I'll
come by tomorrow, okay?
(PHONE RINGING)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Who is it?
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
-Hi!
-Hi.
I just wanted to tell you that
I have a real bad temper.
And that I didn't mean to come
down so hard on you, okay?
Hey, uh,
it's still early and this...
This room keeps
getting smaller.
Pardon?
Well, would you like to go out
for some coffee or something?
I have somebody waiting, ah...
I'm double-parked.
Well bring him. My treat!
It's a girl.
Oh.
-But, ah, some other time.
-Sure, I...
Okay, well...
Thank you for coming by.
-So long.
-Okay.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Who, uh, what?
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Yeah, uh, yeah.
What're you doing?
Well, ah...
I, I was just...
-What're you doing here?
-I didn't have to work today.
So, I thought we'd
get started. You've got
a thousand calls to make.
Oh, right. Well, come on in.
I'll just...
Give me ten minutes, okay?
Don't take too long,
this isn't a vacation.
I know.
Hey, you want to
get some breakfast?
Oh, that depends.
JOANNE: Depends on whether
or not you have a girl
double-parked out there.
(CHUCKLES)
(SIGHS)
Yeah, sometime I'll show you
the house we're
working on now.
I'd like to see it.
It's got some
nice little touches.
(CLEARS THROAT) Sometimes I...
I make my own
changes in the design.
I like to
visualize people living
in the house, especially kids.
And, um...
Oh,
like I'll build little hiding
places for them, you know?
Little private
nooks for them to...
To discover.
That's nice. Did you grow up
in a house like that?
No. No.
My... My adoptive parents got
separated really early,
so I just lived, uh...
All around the place.
Mostly with my
so-called relatives.
-Were they nice?
-No.
Oh.
Neither was I.
Oh.
Hey, Joanne, I've got some
info on some part-time jobs,
if you're interested.
Oh terrific!
Thank you, Louise.
Make a list of
all the hospitals.
I'm gonna look for anybody
with the doctor's name Joren.
Thank you.
For what? You're gonna help me
look all over the country
for the Spauldings.
Who are the Spauldings?
My parents, Alec and Anne.
Their address
listed in the hospital
records was phony.
My father listed his
occupation as a machinist.
Uh, maybe that was phony too,
But, ah, I guess I've called
over 500 factories
and machine shops.
"Did you employ
an Alec Spaulding
25 years ago, wife, Anne.
"If so, please reply
and give me his most
current address."
Hi!
-Hi.
-Hey, I'm sorry I'm late.
Oh, that's okay.
I like watching
people here, anyway.
What're we going to be
doing at the library?
Just checking
through some phone books.
What phone books?
Portland phone book,
Seattle phone book.
We're looking
for the Spauldings,
Alec and Anne.
Spauldings, there are gonna
be a million Spauldings.
There are.
Why couldn't you have
a less common name?
-What would you like?
-I don't know,
Rumplestiltskin?
People-watching in this city
is really something special.
My parents
could still be here.
So, I can't help studying
faces and, and wondering
if I'm looking at one of them.
It's silly.
Not so silly.
Wonder what I'd say to them?
CHRIS: "Remember me?"
JOANNE:
Just say, "Hey look at me.
I'm all right. I made it."
That's right.
Excuse me, you gentlemen
wouldn't happen to be
my father, would you?
No, I don't think you are.
No, no, no.
Well, why did you give me up?
I wouldn't have eaten
that much, you know.
-(CLEARS THROAT)
-You wonder that, too?
Sure.
Listen, my, my parents were
married when I was born.
I know that much.
You know,
when a couple has a baby
it's usually an event, right?
They didn't even take
me back from the hospital.
(SCOFFING) Some event.
Yeah, sure, I wonder why.
Sometimes, sometimes I wonder
maybe she's
looking for me, too.
-Any luck?
-Not yet.
Hello, yes, I would
like to know if there is
or was a Dr. C. Joren
practicing in your hospital.
In obstetrics.
C. Joren.
J-O-R-E-N.
I see, um, what about in
the past? Do your records
go back 22 years?
Yeah, I know,
but this is important.
Well, this is very important.
Well, how about if
I come in and look myself?
(HAMMERING)
-Hi.
-Hi.
-Oh, thank you.
-Yeah.
(CLEARS THROAT)
A letter came for you at
A.I.S., and Carol thought it
might be important, so...
So, how do you like the house?
Well,
it has a very open feeling.
Plenty of air, you know.
It's a good house.
I'm sure it is.
Do you like
the smell of new wood?
Mmm-hmm.
(CLEARS THROAT) I'm not gonna
use any paint or
stain on it, you know.
I'm just gonna
leave it natural so
that the wood can breathe.
-It's better that way.
-Yeah, it's a good idea.
I think if I wasn't
doing this for a living,
I'd probably do it for fun.
-(LAUGHS) Would you?
-Yeah.
You, uh, built
a house for yourself yet?
No, I think that's
more for families,
you know.
Thanks for
bringing the letter.
Oh, yes, I forgot.
No, go ahead.
You, you open it.
Swanson's Tool and Die.
Uh, dear Mr. Schroeder,
our records show we employed
an Alec Spaulding...
From 1947 to 1958.
Wife's name,
Anne, no children.
Address:
49 Dalton Lane, San Diego.
(SIGHS)
(SIGHS)
Chris, that's fantastic!
CHRIS: You're gonna come
with me, aren't you?
Yeah.
(CAR DOOR OPENING)
Hello.
-Hi.
-Excuse me, uh...
Does a man named
Spaulding live here?
Nope.
That's the man I
bought the house from.
His name was Spaulding.
-When was that?
Oh,
it's been 15 or 20 years ago.
Do you know where he is?
What city?
I don't know.
Is, ah, is there anybody
around here that might know?
Oh, I don't think any of these
people were here then.
Did you know Spaulding?
I only met him once or twice.
Well, what does he look like?
Oh, he was, uh, dark.
And kind of husky,
as I remember.
And, and his wife?
Well, I can't really...
I can't get a picture of her.
I'm usually
pretty good at that,
but it's been a long time ago.
Did he ever mention a son?
No,
it was just he and his wife,
as far as I remember.
(DOG BARKING)
He used to live here, sort of.
Oh, maybe you'd like to just
walk through the place?
Come on, come on.
If you'll excuse me
for just a minute,
I'll be right with you.
They lived here
when I was born.
1948.
They must've gone up to L. A.
to have me and
then they, uh...
Came back here.
It's a funny
feeling being here.
(SIGHS)
Knowing that, uh...
She was here with me
when she was pregnant.
Just sitting there...
Looking at the walls,
looking out the window.
Just sitting there.
Oh, you know,
this is my favorite room.
This dining room.
You know, that Spaulding
did all these built-ins.
All this wood trim.
-He did this?
-Yes.
He did, uh...
All the...
All this by himself?
It's pretty good work.
So...
One day...
Maybe while he was working
on the house,
and she was
looking out the window...
(SIGHS) They
decided not to keep me.
I wish they hadn't
decided to do that.
(CRYING)
(CRYING)
The idea of this meeting
is to get other
points of view.
Let Mrs. Quayle finish.
And so, you're trying to
find... Trying to find
your real parents.
What are you trying to find
from your real parents?
You said the same thing.
What is it that
you really want
from your real parents?
It's just to touch.
To see that person,
to ask why.
Um, I don't wanna...
You mean to ask why,
because they made a mistake?
And to know...
And to put them down,
in other words, right?
No, no, I don't wanna do that.
I have a dreadful
fear of doing that.
Uh, I do,
I don't wanna push them away
by approaching them hostilely
or to make them defensive.
I...
Did you ever think they
might have done it
-for your well-being,
for the best for you?
-(CHRIS SCOFFS)
That's unbelievable.
-Well it's...
-Why is that unbelievable?
Why?
I mean if you're not equipped,
at that time, emotionally...
To open the door and walk
out of the house is, uh...
-It's not opening...
-That's helping somehow,
right?
It's not opening the door
and walking out, not at all.
-MIKE: Chris...
-Good luck to you.
MIKE: Chris,
what would you think if
somebody knocked on your door
and opened it,
without you saying "Come in"?
You happen to be looking
for your real parents.
What if you were satisfied
and they were
searching you out?
Would you want
your own privacy?
I don't understand what you...
MIKE: Well, you're
searching for someone...
You're searching,
you're searching, right?
WOMAN:
There's something else...
MIKE: I'm trying to understand
another point of view.
Are you always trying to
understand
another point of view?
MIKE: Exactly.
You're very
emotional about it, Chris,
and I guess you have had
a bad experience someplace.
Two things I'd like to say...
Number one, I really kind of
object to the use of
the word "real parent,"
in relation to
the birth parents.
Uh,
the real parents are people
like me and my husband.
-And we've just
adopted a baby.
-Yeah, okay.
I'm their parent.
Ah, the other, you know,
the other people
are birth parents
and it's true,
they cannot be denied.
But I'm the parent.
And I would like to feel that
my relationship
with my child...
If my child grows up and is in
the position that
some of you are in
and wants to find
the birth parents,
will not wipe out
or eradicate what
we have been to each other.
Or what we will be
as a family.
JOANNE:
That's terrific in theory...
CHRIS:
Can I say one thing about...
Uh, there's a lot of guilt
pressure put on you.
Uh, personally speaking,
I guess,
I didn't want to make this
into a personal forum.
My parents made me feel
very guilty about wanting
to come and look.
And I feel like there's
a terrible gap there,
now, because of that.
And, uh, it's not taking
anything away from them.
It's not negating any kind
of life we've had together.
You're looking for something
they can't give you.
They can't give
you who had you.
They can't give you biological
identity or whatever else
you want to call it.
It's like a great
big question mark.
And you go and you try and
find out, and everybody says,
"Well, it's personal,
"they're sealed files."
Well I'm personal.
-I'm the personal part,
you know that's...
-MAN: Right, I hate it.
I'm the one, you know.
And I have to live with that
question mark, you know.
Who the hell am I?
I, I, I!
You talk about your guilt.
What kind of,
I'll use the word, pain,
is felt by
the adopted parents?
MIKE: Are you concerned
with what they feel?
Or is your concern
much more important?
No, I'm concerned.
I'm concerned,
but I think you're saying,
that what I need to know is
not important because
you take it for granted.
Because you take for granted
all the things that I need to
know for one instant.
I can forget them again.
I can not tell someone.
I have to give them that pain,
because I must
get rid of my own.
-I need...
-MAN: That's small.
I can't see any
reason to inflict pain.
WOMAN:
You haven't felt it, Michael.
That's I, I, I, again.
It's I, I, I when you're
talking about you,
when all I can
talk about is I, I, I!
That's what I feel,
you don't feel it, Michael.
You're not adopted.
You can see it,
but you cannot feel it.
Yes, this is upsetting
me terribly, because, uh...
Since we've had the baby
such a short time,
but we feel so
close to the situation.
You know, there's so much
feeling pouring out.
And you think of
devoting your energy
and your time and your love,
and then the kid grows up...
-And all of a sudden...
-WOMAN: They don't go away.
They don't go away because
they're looking for
a biological parent.
Well, that doesn't make them
go away from you.
It's not a threat to you.
Maybe I can't understand
that at this moment...
(ALL TALKING AT ONCE)
It just terrifies me.
I think part of the problem is
that we're really in
a transition period.
You know, we're coming into a
time where
things are changing.
And this is,
this is an example
of how things are changing.
The laws and the mores that
prevailed before
were quite different.
Adoption, the whole question
of adoption was a big secret.
Everything is being opened up
more in this society and
adoption is part of that.
And I think this kind
of thing is healthy.
I personally don't feel...
I don't share your feeling
of being threatened.
At least I don't, right now.
You know, I don't know how
I'll feel when
my baby grows up,
and maybe puts
the hard question...
You kinda have everything
all kinda together?
WOMAN:
Nope, not right, now I do.
You're feeling
really comfortable, right?
-WOMAN:
Right now, my baby's little.
-Are you now?
-She's trying.
-WOMAN: Now, wait a minute.
-Wait a minute,
I just want to finish.
-I... I don't like this.
Let me just finish my point.
I was gonna say,
okay so you're looking.
And even if you, you find
the person and even if you,
if you have a relationship,
or if you don't,
or if they throw you out or
they don't want to see you.
Okay,
so maybe you have to do that.
-Maybe you have to...
-Now, don't just...
Don't just toss
things off like that,
I mean, you know...
Maybe they'll wanna see you,
maybe they won't, I mean...
She's not
suffering for it, you are.
But she, she's for you.
She's saying she understands.
If you're suffering for it,
you've gotta do something
about it,
that's what she said.
(ALL TALKING AT ONCE)
-Michael!
-MICHAEL: Yes, yes, yes.
It's like,
all of us are getting
so angry about everything,
and getting so upset about it.
But, the point and the reason
why we're upset
is because even
no matter what
your reasons are.
No matter how much we go,
"I, I, I,"
we're not allowed to.
And that's why
everyone's getting so upset.
That's why it has
to be "I, I, I,"
cause there's no we.
Exactly.
I mean, I found out I was I
was adopted and it didn't
bother me that much.
And I thought, "Okay, I'll
find my parents. Do it." And
you find out you can't do it.
I seem to be the bad one here.
Because I'm a mother who gave
up her child for adoption.
-MAN: Why'd...
-WOMAN: That doesn't
make you a bad guy.
I don't know.
-MAN: Why'd you do that?
-WOMAN: I think it's
an unknown quantity.
Well, I couldn't at the time.
-I, I...
-MAN: Couldn't what?
I couldn't take
care of the child.
MAN: Do you have any regrets?
WOMAN: Would you want
to see the child, now?
No, no.
It would be a stranger.
Listen, I can understand.
I can understand you having
a really hard life, you know.
-And having not...
-I didn't say that.
I didn't say that.
Well you said that it, that
it was impossible for you
to keep your child.
I would guess that would
mean that you had...
I said that I, myself was not
emotionally equipped at that
time to take care of a child.
That somebody else could
do it better than I could.
Okay, so you give up then,
the responsibility of...
-And take on a lot of guilt,
at that time...
-Of this child.
Okay,
whatever, you know guilt.
-You know,
that's a whole other story.
-WOMAN: Oh, that's not fair.
But, wait a second, now.
Just let me, just let
me get the thought out.
I mean you say,
I can understand you
giving up the responsibility,
but then you,
you, you also deny the birth.
It's, as if you must have
made some
adjustment in your head...
WOMAN: Now, wait a minute.
That, that person just wasn't!
JOANNE:
I want to ask you something.
And I don't wanna put
a guilt thing on you
or make you feel bad
or defensive about it.
Don't you wonder...
Ah, you say you don't,
you don't want
to see the child.
WOMAN: Don't you want
to look at her once?
Just look at her face, once?
I feel that so strongly in me
for wanting to see my
parents so very much.
Ah, how can...
And I, I guess I feel I want
that on the other side, too.
I think you should be aware
that, in essence, this is
a projection on your part.
Your wanting to see and, uh...
That, I think,
is the basic problem.
Projecting your needs and
your wants, and your fears
onto another person...
Who gave birth to you
and has given that up.
And wishes to remain private.
Ah, I know it's
uncomfortable for you here.
And, ah, it's like you know,
any one of us could have
been your child.
But going back to what
Michael said about projecting,
which I don't think I'm doing,
isn't there
an ounce of instinct,
a grain of instinct that
makes you want to once
look at your child
in the eyes.
Just once,
now, when she's grown up?
I could be your daughter.
I wish you were my mother.
I wish you were my mother.
It's not that bad, is it?
That's all I want, is this.
I mean you could be my mother,
and it wouldn't be that bad.
We could just sit and talk
and look at each other,
like now.
I'm sorry, I just...
I would like to know my
mother's reaction
if someone went to her
and asked her that.
Probably very like my own.
It doesn't alter the fact that
I'm obviously not your mother.
Uh,
I had a boy child, and uh...
If I was not
equipped to, to raise you...
Then I shouldn't
have raised you.
And I felt it was right.
Oh, oh!
Hey, why don't you shut up,
you know, I wonder about you.
If you did find your parents,
what would happen?
I wonder what would happen
with you, because I think
you're obsessed.
I don't think it would
change anything in you.
(GASPS)
I don't want you to feel like
we, we're beating up on you,
or anything.
It's just that...
It's like, you're on one side
of a big file cabinet and
we're on the other side.
And somehow we both want
to talk to each
other somewhere inside.
And they won't let us.
So don't, don't feel like
we're beating up on you.
And if you've been frustrated
as long as Chris,
that's a lot of phone calls.
Well, I go back to
my original premise,
that all of you are looking
possibly for something else.
Good morning!
Joanne, you have a note.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, my...
(LAUGHS) She found it!
Ah, Carol did some telephoning
for me and, and she found
the hospital I was born in!
-WOMAN 1: Terrific!
Congratulations!
-WOMAN 2: Marvelous.
WOMAN ON PA: Dr. Kaufman,
telephone please. Dr. Kaufman.
Dr. Weitz,
telephone please. Dr. Weitz.
Mrs. Weiner?
That's me.
I'm Joanne Denver.
You told me to
be here at noon.
Mmm, you're ten minutes early.
Luckily today's meatloaf
day in the cafeteria,
and I always eat
lunch at my desk
on meatloaf day.
So, if you'll just give me
one minute to digest,
I'll be right with you.
What do you need?
The records of my birth here,
22 years ago.
Yeah? You two getting married?
Well, yes. It's supposed
to be a secret.
-Congratulations.
-Thank you.
She's lovely.
Yeah, she is, isn't she?
Now,
your name is Denver?
Well, actually I have...
I have the date and
the time of birth,
and the doctor's name,
and if you could supply me
with the name of the parent,
or parents and an address...
Oh, you're adopted?
JOANNE: Yes.
Well, then, we can't
examine the records.
CHRIS: Wait a minute. Listen.
You can examine the records...
I'm going to the cafeteria,
and don't say
anything about the meatloaf.
Well, you'll hate it.
Just once, would you let me
approach it with an open mind?
(CHRIS CLEARING THROAT)
It's dry. He'll hate it.
There's no law that
says she can't have
the facts of her birth.
Can't I at least have a name?
I really can't do it.
I'm sorry.
Well, you see, he won't marry
me unless we can find
out my real last name.
Well, then he's not worth it,
honey, believe me.
CHRIS: You're not gonna
give her the name, right?
MRS. WEINER:
I told you, I'm sorry.
Come on.
Why'd you let her off so easy?
Because I may
want to come back
and try again.
And if you're
gonna make her mad,
she's never gonna help. Right?
(SIGHS) "I'm sorry," she says.
She could care less. Come on.
Hey, wait a minute.
There's someone I
want to talk to.
Would you wait for me?
They don't give a damn.
Oh, will you wait?
Okay. I'll wait in the car.
WOMAN ON PA: Dr. Warner,
maternity please. Dr. Warner.
Miss Hampton,
telephone please.
Miss Hampton.
Hello.
Don't look up.
Just... Just
pretend we're not talking.
You've been
chosen by your country
to perform a secret mission.
I've been waiting for
this moment all my life.
Shh!
Sorry.
Do you have
a name or a number?
That's your mission,
to find out my name.
It's in the hospital records.
Is this a test?
No.
Well,
you've got to know your name.
I'm adopted.
I'll give you this.
It has my birth date,
and the time,
and the name of the doctor.
Now,
you tell me everything else
that's in the records. Okay?
(SIGHING)
It's not so simple.
Did you think being
a secret agent was easy?
(BOB CHUCKLES)
This is very important
to my country, right?
It's very important.
Meatloaf was dry, wasn't it?
I haven't eaten it yet.
It'll be dry.
BOB: Got a pencil?
Oh, yeah.
Only one name was listed.
Your mother's. (CLEARS THROAT)
Emma Verko.
Verko?
BOB: V-E-R-K-O.
Address.
West Wheeler Drive,
Los Angeles.
How did I do?
Your country's
very proud of you.
Good luck, Miss Verko.
Thank you.
My name is Verko,
and I have an address,
my mother's address.
Let's go see if she's home.
CHRIS: This is 820,
West Wheeler Drive.
Maybe it was
East Wheeler Drive.
That's a park.
There's
a telephone booth, come on.
There's about a dozen Verkos,
but I don't see an Emma.
Let's start at the top.
What are you going to say?
-WOMAN: Hello.
-Hello.
Hi. (CLEARS THROAT) I'm new
in town and my
name is Verko, too.
And I was just wondering if,
you know, we might be related.
And do you know an Emma Verko?
-WOMAN: Emma?
-Mmm-hmm.
WOMAN: No.
All right, thank you. Goodbye.
No, wait. Call after 5:00,
so you get people home.
And make sure you
call from A.I.S.
Well,
there aren't that many left.
Well, there was at
least a dozen there.
And there's probably
more in the valley. Come on.
Take your time.
Enjoy the moment.
You got the name
you started with.
Yeah. Verko.
Verko...
Well, it's not as bad
as Spaulding. Come on!
-It's not as common, anyway.
-No.
What do you think that is?
Is that Slavic?
Could be.
So you know you're
half Yugoslavian,
you know your
mother's name is Emma.
That's not bad for one day.
Do you think
maybe I have people in Europe?
Sure!
Probably a town.
-Verko, Yugoslavia.
-Oh.
No, your father's the mayor.
They're gonna
have a big parade
for you when you arrive.
You'll probably get
the key to the city.
Hello.
You're early this morning.
You make any coffee?
Hey, what's wrong?
It's a dead end.
There's no trace of
them after San Diego.
So, it's back to the library,
right?
More cities, more
phone calls, more letters.
I'll help you.
CHRIS: Help yourself.
So, what are you
gonna do then, just stop?
They're stopping me.
People who act
as if my adoption
is a state secret.
A lawyer who's protecting
my records as if they were
classified information.
I'm not trying to
steal something.
I just want to find somebody!
I wanna
just find out how I
got all screwed up.
I wanna
know why they gave me away.
What about this lawyer?
Can we go talk to him again?
Talk to him? I've begged him!
I...
I practically threatened him.
I broke his door down.
Well, let's try again.
Come on. I'll go with you.
Hey! Come on.
Tourist.
-Hello.
-Hi.
-A new lady.
-Yeah.
Did the dragon retire?
Did you want to see Mr.
Gilbert?
No.
I just need some information.
Uh... Mr. Gilbert helped
my parents with a matter
about 25 years ago.
Anne and Alec Spaulding.
And, I just thought maybe
you might be able
to find it for me.
SECRETARY:
Twenty-five years ago?
Mmm-hmm. An adoption.
Well,
I don't know, but I'll check.
If the records aren't here,
they're probably
in our file room.
Oh, Gloria...
Yes, I'm trying to
find some records
for Mr. Spaulding.
Do you know
where they might be?
Last time, I told you
never to come back here.
He's only asking
for one piece of information.
No.
Nobody cares
about this but me.
I care about doing my job.
I care about people
bursting in here
and threatening me.
I should've called
the police the last time.
Oh, well... Well, go ahead!
If this man ever
comes in here again...
No, no, no. I think you
ought to call the police,
right away
'cause I'm a real
dangerous person.
I might hurt somebody.
This is my office.
I pay rent on this place.
Yeah, right, the world
would stop if you showed me
the records, right?
-You have no right
to those records!
-Yes, I do!
Just who do you think you are?
(SHOUTING) I don't know!
All right, let's go. Out!
-(JOANNE GASPING)
-Don't do that!
-(GASPING)
-Chris!
Chris.
Chris. Wait!
(JOANNE CRYING OUT)
Do you hit out at everybody?
I'm sorry.
Do you blame
everything on being adopted?
You take it all and you
hang it on that one hook,
it's gonna kill you.
-(SHOUTING) It is a hook!
-No, it's a crutch.
It's just an excuse.
It's gonna kill you.
I don't wanna hear it anymore.
(DOOR SLAMMING)
-Goodnight, Chris.
-Goodnight, Chris.
Um... My name is Joanne Verko.
And,
I'm tracing my family tree,
and I was wondering
if you know of an Emma Verko.
Hello, Mrs. Verko?
Hi. My name
happens to be Verko, too.
And I'm tracing my
family tree, sort of,
and I was just wondering,
do you know an Emma Verko?
Uh-huh.
Oh, your husband might know?
Well, fine, thanks.
I'll call back then.
(CLEARING THROAT)
-MAN: Hello?
-Mr. Verko?
-Yes.
-Hi.
My name happens to be Verko,
too, and I'm sort of
looking for my family tree.
And I was wondering,
do you happen to know
anyone named Emma Verko?
-What's your name?
-Chris.
-Chris, huh?
-Mmm-hmm.
What's your dad's name?
Why, do you know Emma?
Yeah, I... I know Emma.
Emma's my sister.
But I don't remember a Chris.
Where does your
sister live now?
She's living in Pasadena.
You think we're related?
-Yeah, just a minute.
-Uh...
Well now... My father has
a cousin, name of Emma.
That's all I know.
What did you say
your father's name was?
John.
No, no. No,
I'm sorry. I don't know...
Now, tell me,
is Emma still Emma Verko?
No. She's married now.
Her name is Emma Cutler.
Now, 20 years ago,
she lived in Los Angeles,
right?
Uh-huh.
And she has moved
to Ridgeton Street?
That's 409.
West Ridgeton, uh-huh.
Hey, thank you very much.
(SQUEALS EXCITEDLY)
Sure you don't
want to call first?
No.
Know what you're going to say?
I'm a... I'm a distant cousin,
or I'm selling magazines.
I just want to be with her
for a while, you know.
This is Ridgeton Street.
There it is.
You're anxious just
to look at her, right?
That's what I want to do.
Just stare.
For about a day.
Yeah, I want to look at her.
I want to ask her
about my father.
And I want to
touch her, you know?
Just...
Touch her.
Yes?
Uh... Are you Emma Cutler?
Yes.
Well, what do you want?
Um... I'm Joanne Denver.
But I... But I'm adopted,
and I've wanted
for a long time...
I've just wanted to meet you.
How old are you?
I was born May 10, 1952,
Saint Agnes Hospital.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...
I didn't mean to
shock you like that.
What do you want?
I just wanted to meet you.
To... To see you.
And I'd like to know about me.
I... I couldn't help it.
I couldn't keep you.
I understand.
You see, I was...
I wasn't married.
Please, you... You don't
have to go into all of that.
I mean, it was the only thing
I could do. Believe me.
I do, I really do.
I'm sorry.
I... I didn't come here to...
To make you feel...
Nowadays, it's different.
See, I know that.
It's different.
I mean, a single woman
can keep a child.
They're very open about it.
(SIGHING) But...
It wasn't like that for me.
I understand.
I did the best
I could for you.
It was for you, believe me.
You look nice.
So do you.
How did you find me?
It wasn't easy,
I guess I was just lucky.
Lucky?
Can you tell me
something about my father?
Look,
somebody gave
you a life, right?
You have parents?
It... It's been
a good life. Nice people.
Fine. Fine.
Then you ask them
anything you want
to about their lives.
Not me. Not me.
See, I don't have
to tell you something
I don't like to remember.
That's...
That's why I let you go.
Understand?
I didn't like my life then,
and I wanted to
forget about it.
And I have forgotten about it.
Now, what do you want from me?
Why did you come here?
I'm sorry that's
such a bad memory.
It's a bad memory.
And I haven't forgotten it.
None of it.
(TEARFULLY) Why did you come
looking for me?
I had...
I had to see what
you looked like.
And I had to
know what happened.
I got pregnant and the man
wouldn't marry me,
that's what happened.
What was his name?
I don't want to
think about him.
I mean, he didn't want me.
He didn't want you.
So what was I supposed to do?
I wanted a chance
you know, to get married.
And, with
an illegitimate child,
you know...
Well, that wouldn't
have been very good
for either one of us. So...
And I was right.
See, I was right.
-You did okay, didn't you?
-Yeah.
See. Better than I
could've done for you.
So, I was right, what I did.
Are these your children?
Yes.
My husband knows about you.
But the kids don't.
And I...
I don't want them to know.
And I don't want my husband
to know that you were here.
(TEARFULLY) All right.
All right, Emma.
And you won't come
back again, will you?
No.
Not if you don't want me to.
I'm sorry you
were disappointed.
Oh, I wasn't disappointed.
That's all it was, you know.
That's...
Listen,
I don't want you to think
I was some kind of a tramp.
No, I don't think that.
That's all there is to tell.
(CHUCKLES HALF-HEARTEDLY)
I can't even think.
I can't believe
you're standing there,
and I'm talking to you.
-I know.
-(SOBBING)
Emma.
Did you ever
have a name for me?
You go.
Okay? Please!
(SOBBING) Please! Please!
Carolyn.
(CRYING)
-(CRYING)
-Aw...
-Come on.
-ATTENDANT: Hi. How are you?
WOMAN ON PA:
Passenger Warren Travers,
flight 728, please pick up
the white courtesy telephone.
Passenger Warren Travers,
flight 728, please pick up
the white courtesy telephone.
I want to be here when you
find what you want.
Get your law degree.
Was it worth it?
All the hunting?
She... She didn't give me
what I was hoping she would,
but she sure
took something away.
That...
That question, that takes up
a lot of space, you know.
And that's gone,
so I guess that's...
That's worthwhile.
Well, keep in touch.
I'll phone.
No, no, no.
You just write to me.
Save your money.
I'll start
a letter on the plane.
I've got a lot to say.
I'm not going to let you
get away from me for
very long, you know.
Oh, good. (CHUCKLES)
I'm nervous about going home.
Are your parents
going to meet you?
No, I didn't call them.
I... I wouldn't know
what to say to them.
You sure you want to go home?
Yeah. I want to be welcomed.
I want to be hugged hello.
I just don't know
how they feel about it.
You better... You better call.
I'll wait for you here.
WOMAN ON PA: Attention,
last call for boarding all
passengers for flight...
-Hello.
-Hello, Dad.
Hey, Jo! (CHUCKLING)
God, it's good to hear you.
How are you?
It's Joanne, honey, come here.
I'm fine.
It's good to hear you, too.
Yeah, well, listen,
we've been
thinking a lot about you.
We only had two letters.
I'm finished here.
You're finished?
That's wonderful!
When are you coming?
Listen, you better
talk to your mother.
When are you coming home?
Hi, Mom. I'm getting
on the plane now,
so it it'll be...
She's coming now.
What time do you arrive?
About 6:00.
We'll meet you.
Jo, we're glad.
Yeah, me too.
Okay,
honey, we'll see you soon.
Okay. Bye.
♪ How far I've come
♪ The miles and years
♪ Turn the light from my eyes
♪ That the past
can still be found
♪ When the truth
has rolled around
♪ And I'll be home
♪ When old love's lost
♪ Like patient smiles
♪ Come alive one last time
♪ When the lock accepts my key
♪ When
a stranger laughs like me
♪ Then I'll be home
♪ Each of us alone
♪ Must choose a path
to bring us all together
♪ Share the love we've known
♪ And understand
the loves who walk away
♪ My mother's eyes
♪ My father's smile
♪ Shed their sweet life on me
♪ When my voice
and voices past
♪ Sing in harmony at last
♪ Then I'll be home ♪