Screen One (1985–2002): Season 6, Episode 1 - Bambino mio - full transcript
A woman's fight to adopt a war baby from the Third World after becoming unable to conceive.
-[distant church bell tolls]
-[birds tweet]
[priest chants in
foreign language]
[congregation chants
in foreign language]
[priest chants in
foreign language]
[congregation chants
in foreign language]
[priest chants in
foreign language]
[congregation chants
in foreign language]
[priest chants in
foreign language]
[choir sings in
foreign language]
[priest sings in
foreign language]
[congregation sings
in foreign language]
-[sombre orchestral music]
-[singing in foreign language]
[Alice moans and
breathes heavily]
[woman speaks foreign language]
[Alice moans]
[Woman] Alice!
Alice!
[Alice groans]
[man speaks foreign language]
[Alice whines]
[birds tweet]
[Harry] Did they
say why? The baby?
Shock. They said it was shock.
[sighs]
Anger, more like.
You've plenty of time.
[Alice] For what?
To marry again.
Oh, just like that?
[Harry] Well, no,
not just like that.
How, then?
Sorry, I don't know
what I'm talking about.
No, no. It's very revealing.
You're an old mate.
How do I go about it?
Well, I don't know,
but it happens.
No, it does not. Not
to me, it doesn't.
Maybe men are different. Maybe
other women, I don't know.
But I take the whole thing
seriously. Maybe too seriously.
Do you know how long I knew
Philippe before I finally agreed
to give it all up,
being just me, I mean?
Four years. Four
long, hard years.
It's a painful business
getting to know someone enough.
Enough to love them and
want to have their children.
Not something that just
happens. Believe me.
You make it sound like coming
through cancer or something.
Do I?
Well, if I do, I'm wrong.
It's wonderful.
You finally abandon yourself.
Link up for life with
a separate being.
Wonderful.
I lost the lot two years ago.
He didn't just kill himself.
The miscarriage damaged me.
I'm barren, Harry.
Children are just
no longer possible.
Of course, you've
thought about adopting?
Oh, thought about
it, I've scrubbed it,
shoved it through the mangler
and hung it out to dry.
It's hopeless.
In England, I'm 42 and manless.
I mean, god help us,
I must be joking.
The French look at
me as if I'm daft.
[speaks foreign language]
Millions of motherless
kids and one kidless mother
and the stupid sods
can't get us together.
[sighs] Such a damn shame.
I mean, look at this place.
It's huge.
It's all mine now.
Well, at school,
we always knew you were
meant for better things.
-You always were a class act.
-[Alice chuckles]
Well, you weren't so
bad yourself. Even then.
A bit serious.
"Holy Harry" we called you.
Did you know that?
I had an inkling. [chuckles]
I mean, all this.
I want to share it!
Needs kids to make
it come alive.
[sighs] What about
America? Central America.
[Alice] No, it's no good
unless you're married.
Well, there's a friend of mine,
English woman,
now lives in Nice.
She has a child, an
adopted child from there.
But?
[Harry] She's married.
Yeah, well par for the course.
But I'm pretty certain,
in fact, I know...
-What?
-Well, she married later.
After she got her son.
You say certain. How certain?
Certain.
[brooding orchestral music]
Have you got her number?
Somewhere, yes. I always
call her when I come over.
Harry, you know what
you're doing to me.
Don't, for god's sake, go
on, unless you're sure.
I am sure! I spoke to her
only a couple of weeks ago.
Kid's fine. As
French as they come.
[paper rustles]
Here it is. I'll give it a ring.
If you're wrong, Harry...
Hello, Helen?
It's Harry. Yes.
Yes, I'm fine, thank you.
How's your little boy?
Good. Good, yes.
Well, that's what I want
to talk to you about.
[Alice breathes deeply]
Please, God.
Just this once, give me a break.
-[horn honks]
-[traffic roars]
-Oh, my god, you're not bad.
-[Jean-Paul sighs]
-What do you mean, "not bad"?
-[Alice laughs]
A little bad, a little
bad is good, no?
-Oui.
-Oui.
-Not bad's pretty good.
-[sighs] Good.
-Or should I say "bad"?
-[Alice chuckles]
Aww.
I love coming here.
I've grown quite
fond of that scene.
Well, maybe someday I
should take a look at it.
Now don't let's start
getting complicated.
[both chuckle]
Jean-Paul?
[Jean-Paul] Oui?
[Alice] I'm afraid I am
going to complicate matters.
[Jean-Paul] Well,
that would be a shame.
I want to adopt a baby.
Alice, we've been
through that before.
I know, I know!
What we've got is precious.
Marriage will probably spoil it.
Well, I don't know. We've
always believed it would.
But I wouldn't ask it of
you anyway, or myself!
-Once is enough for both of us.
-Yeah, for the time being.
But if I manage to
find a way without it,
marriage, I mean,
would a baby end us?
You and me?
[Jean-Paul sighs]
You mean
what we have is not enough?
[Alice sighs]
I just don't feel complete.
And what about the child?
Would his life be
complete with us?
We're just a couple
of kids, Alice.
That's why we enjoy
each other so much.
But maybe we deceive ourselves.
Maybe we're old
enough to know better.
Well, we're not too old.
Too old would be worse.
I don't think it's wise.
You see, what's dangerous-
Oh, don't give me
that macho crap about
someone else's
issue, alien blood!
I've had it from the
in-laws till my flesh-
No, no, no! Alice!
Alice.
I fear, so it has to be faced,
someone else's child,
a foreign child.
I fear how I will-
Oh, well hard
bloody luck for you!
Alice!
[door slams]
Merde. Alice!
-[sighs]
-[muffled water splashes]
I want you to to be happy!
If you're not happy, then
something must be done!
Alice!
I'm not sure that
this is the way.
I'm not sure, but...
[sighs]
Okay.
I'm with you.
-Wah!
-Oh!
God, help me.
Oh!
[both laugh]
Okay, we're in this together.
-Oh, I'm crazy!
-I know!
Oh!
-[Alice giggles]
-[Jean-Paul moans]
[water splashes]
Madame Alice?
Alice Dantre Cousteau.
A good name.
Yes, a fine sounding name.
That's a good start.
Yes.
Si, si, I understand.
Si.
Of course I can help.
It's my business to help.
That's what I'm here for.
The first step?
The first step is a vulgar
one, I'm afraid. The fee.
$10,000.
Here, everything
costs money. Si.
In London, too. [chuckles]
How's the weather there?
Ah, sorry. Now, I'll need
several things from you.
First, a medical
certificate of health, yes.
Then a statement from your bank.
A social worker's report.
For that, you'll have to pay.
Also, a psychiatrist's report.
Silly, yes, but silliest
of all, and most important,
a crazy American aptitude test.
[Alice] "The second Milwaukee."
"The second Milwaukee Mind
and Personality
Aptitude Assessment."
Don't laugh. Their
government acts on that.
What?
"Would you like to
hunt lions in Africa?"
It's as good a place
as any. [giggles]
Do you know what amazes
me, Nicole? Terrifies me?
[Nicole] What?
Is that somewhere,
he's out there.
Over there.
Maybe not even born yet.
Maybe still being
carried, but meant,
meant, finally, for me.
[Nicole speaks foreign language]
-I'll be a good mother.
-Sure. [chuckles]
But it would still
be better for him.
[sighs] It's common sense.
What is?
To stay with his mother!
His natural mother.
They can't. That's
the whole point.
The poor mothers can't cope.
Mm, all over the world.
It breaks your heart.
Yeah, exactly.
The child's mother and those
like her don't have to.
Their kids have got a
chance and they know it.
People like me
give them a chance.
I know.
It's sad, that's all.
Don't you think I know it's sad?
It's sad your
brother was killed.
It's sad I can't
have kids of my own.
And there's all these people,
all this rubbish designed,
determined to stop me from
doing something about it.
Perhaps it's got a purpose.
If I want to hunt
lions in Africa?
No, [chuckles] not that.
The rest.
We know you, okay?
But the child, he doesn't!
He can't ask, check.
So, all these others
must do it for him.
Yeah, and make a fast
buck on the side.
C'est la vie.
And why bring him here?
Why not France?
Deep down, you
don't trust us, yes?
Well, maybe I trust us
more. I don't know why.
Maybe I prefer the enemy I know.
Maybe I just want
him to be British.
That's how you see it, is it?
A battle?
They're lined up out there,
waiting to find the worst.
God knows I don't know
what it is they're after.
If I did, I'd put
on some sort of act.
Anything to send
them off satisfied.
Declaration of assets.
Confirmation that the account
has been in credit
since you opened it.
Your credit worthiness.
A recent statement.
And, yes.
[Man] Okay.
There you are, Madame.
El Presidente himself could
not fail to be impressed.
Thank you.
-Bye bye.
-Goodbye.
It's okay.
With you, I should hope so.
What now, and where?
Now, ma cher,
comes the hard bit.
Convincing ourselves
that I'm completely sane.
-[horn honks]
-[traffic hums]
-Your childhood?
-Yes, very happy.
Uh, my mother was...
Normally loving? Attentive?
And your father?
[Alice] Well...
Was a little distant.
Very.
Canada.
He left my mother
when I was two.
And his absence?
Well, you don't miss
what you don't have.
Well, um...
There were times when I
wished I'd had a father, yeah.
But, uh...
Anything else?
Um...
No.
The death of your husband.
Yeah.
[Psychiatrist] Tell me about it.
Well, it was a boating accident.
How it affected you.
How you coped.
Oh.
Well...
It was a painful experience.
But you quickly adjusted?
No. Not quickly, no.
But, um...
You readjusted.
After a while.
No resentment?
Anger?
No. Why should there be?
I mean, I was left
with no children.
But he left me
well provided for.
If I felt any anger, it
was against, well, fate.
At the senselessness of it all.
I mean, it was all
so bloody stupid.
[sighs]
Now...
How would you describe your
relationship with your lover?
He exists?
Yes, he does. [chuckles]
[Psychiatrist]
Tell me about him.
I can't approach your
case as a single parent
whilst you're pursuing
a relationship.
To all intents and
purposes, you're a couple,
and it's only right
I regard you as such.
It's only right that you
do what's right for me!
I mean, I'm paying
you, for god's sake!
I'm a professional
social worker, okay?
Now, you've hired me
to produce the report,
but that doesn't mean I renounce
my responsibility to the child.
And it is right for
you that every aspect
of the prospectus situation
is weighed and examined now,
before the wheels
are set in motion.
Yes.
Sorry.
I was just scared.
It is scary, adopting a child.
Especially from abroad.
But there's no reason that
Jean-Paul's involvement
should jeopardise the
process in any shape or form.
It might even enhance it.
Now, he knows?
Yes.
Approves?
He's supporting.
[sighs] Oh, I don't know. Is
all this really necessary?
It is pretty damn well private.
[Social Worker] Very.
[sighs] Well...
We're good.
Together.
-Sexually, you mean?
-Yes.
And we wanted that to be
all. For it to end there.
-For that to be enough.
-But it wasn't?
-For me, no.
-And him?
Well, if it was, he'd
have run and he hasn't.
-So, it can't have been.
-It never is.
And if it is, it doesn't last.
Fortunately, a baby expects
more of us than that.
If there is a relationship,
it needs to be a stable one.
Now...
Why?
Why do you want to adopt?
It's obvious, isn't
it? I mean, I'm female!
[Social Worker]
Believe me, these days,
that doesn't mean a thing.
I want to... [sighs]
I want to hold a baby.
I want to, to love a baby.
To, to care for him.
To help him to grow.
Oh, god, it sounds
so bloody stupid!
[sighs]
I'm 42.
I've got money, a beautiful
house, a man who says
he loves me and god knows
I don't feel complete.
Well, don't ask a
baby to complete you.
You mustn't ask anything
of him. Nothing at all.
Just be prepared to
give. Give and no return.
Anything you do receive
will then be a bonus.
Social worker's home study,
psychiatrist's report,
personality assessment,
medical report,
bank and character references,
and finally, your
own sworn affidavit.
It's post-haste,
transatlantic. Pronto.
Congratulations.
You've emerged with
flying colours.
Thanks.
You know, you've got
a lot to answer for.
If you hadn't come
out on holiday-
[Harry] Happy to plead guilty.
I've never seen you so content.
[Alice] Yeah, yeah. I know.
-Senora?
-Oh.
I'm relieved. I'm
at least eligible.
Or we are. Got to start
thinking of "we" again now.
How is Jean-Paul?
Well, to be honest, he's
finding it a bit of a struggle.
Oh, that's good. A
struggle can be healthy.
No avoiding the issues.
Well, yes. I'm lined
up for the big race.
I can see all the horrors ahead,
but remain convinced
I'm gonna win.
And no doubt you will.
My money's on your nose.
[Alice] Oh, thank you.
I come under orders.
I thought you'd been cleared?
Well, I have. We both have,
for over there, to apply.
But it's not stamped and
sealed, nor for Britain,
and I want him
adopted in Britain.
It's full of land mines.
I thought you said we were
over our limit, age-wise?
Yeah, I am, to adopt
an English baby.
But mine will be ours when
he arrives. A fait accompli.
I just want it
all ratified here.
I want him to be
British. A citizen.
-And brought up in France?
-Yeah. [chuckles]
-Does that sound daft?
-No, what's the EC for?
Mm.
Reminds me of home.
-France?
-No, West Brom.
[both chuckle]
[chatter in foreign language]
Oh.
Grazie.
[chatter in foreign language]
Um...
Yeah. Thanks.
I've got that.
Merci, thanks. Merci.
Jean-Paul.
He's had a call.
There's a baby.
A little boy.
They've got a baby over there.
Five weeks old.
[chuckles] They want me
to fly out straight away.
Oh, god.
[chuckles]
Bambino mio.
[engines roar]
[muffled chatter in
foreign language]
-Madame Dantre Cousteau?
-Si.
Si! Luis, Luis Perez.
Welcome to my, to our city.
Jean-Paul. My wife, Pilar.
Lousy journey, it's hard.
We're tucked away in the
armpits of the Americas,
but we make for
it in hospitality.
Come.
For you, it's a rest. A
soak in the tub and a rest.
We'll talk later, maybe
eat. I know the journey.
You have had more
meals than hot meals.
They just keep wheeling them in.
That's what you say, isn't it?
-Hot meals.
-Yeah.
I got that from a couple
from Leeds, I think.
They took a baby girl,
delighted. They still write.
Luis, no more.
You talk too much.
What about our
passports and things?
Relax, honey,
there's no problem.
[car starts]
[plane engines roar]
[upbeat music in
foreign language]
Our building. Everything is new.
We brought everything
from Miami.
That's why it's comfortable.
[woman speaks foreign language]
We'll just need your name
and signature. That's all.
For you, to brighten
your first day here.
It's always hard, and Luis,
some can make themselves blind.
I hope these will help.
Oh, yes. Thank you,
they're lovely.
I'm just a bit
tired. That's all.
Okay? Anything else?
If I will leave you
to get some sleep?
Well, yes, there is!
Well, name it.
When?
Pardon me?
The lady wants to know when.
Pardon, senora. Tomorrow.
After a rest and a nice
lunch beside the pool,
then you'll meet your son.
[Alice and Jean-Paul chuckle]
[brooding orchestral music]
Good afternoon!
Sleep well? Room okay?
I'd call you, but
you'd be dead awake.
Wonderful hotel, si?
Have you tried the buffet?
Pilar and I, we love it here.
We come here all the time.
Is this the child?
May I present you,
Bonita. Bonita Gomez.
She's very nervous. I mean,
this place, it scares me.
[Alice] Yeah.
May I see him?
[Luis chuckles]
His name, uh, Chico.
Oh.
[baby coos]
[sighs]
Slip her a few dollars.
Not too much, let's say 50.
It's customary.
Gracias. Muchas...
Muchas gracias.
[Luis speaks foreign language]
Well, where's she going?
-It's better.
-Oh, no, no!
-I must, I can't, you can't!
-No, no, it's better.
You have the baby,
that's what you came for.
-No.
-She's happy, she knows that.
I want, just...
-I must explain to her!
-Senora, senora.
The baby, the baby.
Now you must think only of him.
I mean, Pilar has had
your suite arranged.
Diapers, cream,
feeding stuff. The lot.
And she'll help you for a while.
But now? Now Chico is yours.
I mean, it's better that we
take the cow by the horns.
[chuckles]
He wants to get to know
his mommy. Let him.
[melancholy orchestral music]
[Chico breathes heavily]
Shh.
I'll make a deal with you.
You be good to her,
and I'll be good to you.
Okay?
Yes?
[baby coos]
[upbeat music]
Oh, look! A parrot!
Hello!
The baby.
How come?
Oh, he's adopted. Two days.
[man speaks foreign language]
A lucky boy.
Yeah, thank you.
[man speaks foreign language]
[melancholy orchestral music]
Sometimes I think what a hell
of a way to make a living.
Taking kids from their mothers.
Okay, there's no other
way, they've got no hope.
Helpless kids, themselves.
Chico here, his mom, poor kid,
she had nothing else
to do but suffer.
Her eyes looked sort
of terribly dead.
She nearly was, having
him, out in la fosa.
And there, they don't last long.
La fosa?
The grave?
That's what they call it
and that's what it is.
I swear to god, more
die there than live.
But more keep getting born
there, that's for sure.
Luis says we do a service.
Oh, you do. Believe me, you do.
I guess we do.
People like you, we make happy.
[sighs] And make money doing it.
Mothers out in la
fosa, we make sad.
Though, no more sad, I
guess, than they already are.
[Chico coos]
You're all he's got now, Alice.
How you got him is history.
-Pilar?
-Mm?
I want to go to la fosa.
[Pilar] Alice, this
is not a good idea.
[Alice] I don't care. I
just need to talk to her.
-[baby cries]
-[distant chatter and yelling]
[car door slams]
[dog barks]
Alice!
[suspenseful music]
[dog barks]
Alice, come away.
This is a bad place.
At least give me the baby.
No, no.
Wait a moment.
[brooding orchestral music]
[child cries]
[door closes]
Alice, please. We
must leave, now.
Yeah.
I know, yeah. You're right.
Just wanted to see, that's all.
[child cries]
We can't take him with us?
No. Not now.
Soon, yes.
But he's mine.
You've said so for three weeks.
What the hell do
you think we've come
to this godforsaken
country for, a bloody tan?
Jesus.
What is it?
His mother. She doesn't
have the right papers.
-What?
-She's here illegally.
Illegally?
It makes things easier,
but fixing it takes time.
Easier? You mean to take
their children off them?
A couple of weeks, maybe three.
If you'll like to stay, wait.
No, I do not want to
wait! I've had enough!
We're leaving!
And that means Chico, too.
No question, Chico comes too!
Alice, without the papers,
they won't let you out.
Well, get the
bloody papers, then!
[Chico coos]
[Jean-Paul] But then
why didn't you tell us
that it could take so long?
I thought you'd realise
these things take time.
[Jean-Paul] Luis.
Surely you should have
foreseen that in such a case-
There are problems
around every corner.
If you look for
them, you find them.
If they emerge,
I deal with them.
The others are best ignored!
Yeah.
In the meantime, we
just sit and wait, huh?
Well, if you want
my advice, go home!
Wait till it's all settled.
Then I'll have your
son brought to you.
-Is it two weeks?
-Two weeks, three, who knows?
Maybe a little
longer. These things-
So, we go home, without him.
Three weeks a parent is all I
get. That's my ration, is it?
Jesus!
Well, I'm staying. If it
takes years, I'm staying.
Alice, take my advice. Go home.
Your staying here would
only complicate matters.
Well, I'm sorry!
But becoming a mother
is a complicated matter.
Chico's mine and nothing or
nobody is gonna take him away!
But we're not taking him away,
just minding him for you.
There'll be things to do
back home, preparations.
Better than hanging around here.
Alice.
Pilar is right.
If we stay and
interfere at this stage,
we'll lose him forever.
I know it hurts, but trust me.
He's mine.
In every way, every
bone in my body says so.
I know. Believe
me, I understand.
You bring him to me.
Don't let me down.
[sobs]
We're helpless.
Helpless, Jean-Paul.
Just helpless.
It's like some fiend has got
me in the palm of his hand.
Waiting.
Waiting to give me a life.
Purpose.
Or just toss me away.
[sighs]
All we can do is hope that
he's favourably disposed.
To hell with him. We
master our own lives.
You found Chico and
Chico has found you.
There's a bond there.
Mother and son.
Whatever happens
can never be broken.
[birds tweet]
[joyful music]
[grunts]
[tarp rustles]
Tah-dah!
Have you done it?
-Say hello!
-Oh!
Brilliant.
I've gone absolutely mad.
Just couldn't stop.
Yeah.
[muffled chatter]
-Oh, great.
-Yeah.
Wow, it's so nice. I'd
sleep in it myself.
[Alice chuckles]
So, how long again?
One week, maybe two.
Chico's packed and ready.
Good.
Are you coming round?
You're happy, I'm happy.
To you.
To you.
-To Chico.
-To Chico!
[chuckles]
[phone rings]
Hello? Chateaux Dantre Cousteau.
[Alice speaks foreign language]
Hello?
Oh, Luis!
How are you?
What?
No, no, not at all!
It's about 7:15, it's about
time we were up. [chuckles]
So, how are things?
What can we do for you?
We're all set! We
can't wait over here!
No.
Oh, no.
[sighs]
No.
[phone clacks]
-No.
-What?
Hello, Luis? Jean-Paul.
What?
Oh, Jesus.
-[brooding orchestral music]
-[dog barks]
[indistinct yelling]
You bastard!
You cruel bloody bastard!
What have I done?
What have I ever done?
[sobs]
Meningitis, yeah.
Yeah, we understand.
And there was no way
of knowing, telling?
No.
Yeah, the conditions.
That I cannot tell you. It's
too early, it's too soon.
We'll need time.
Yeah, I guess so.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Adios.
[phone clicks]
It was...
I know. I heard.
Apparently, it happens.
These kids inherit infection.
He says we were lucky.
Lucky?
That we didn't take him.
Didn't bring him home.
We only had a glimpse.
It's easier to bear.
"Easier".
Is that what he said?
Easier?
[Jean-Paul sighs]
[Jean-Paul] I can see his point.
There is no easier.
My baby's dead!
He's a cold, heartless
bastard from a cold,
heartless bastard county and
you say you see his point?
Chico.
We could have
grown to love him.
I did love him.
An instant. That's all it takes.
Can't you see that, man?
Understand how it hurts?
[sobs]
Answer me.
Yes.
I can see that.
[sighs] You, you don't.
You can't.
You simply bloody can't.
But I'm sorry, you'll
just have to take my word.
[Jean-Paul sighs]
Luis, he wanted to know
if we're wanting to
look for another child.
Oh, Jean-Paul, not now.
For Christ's sake, not now.
Just get out and
leave me, please.
I'm sorry. I'm a fool.
I'm a pillock, right?
Okay.
Now just leave me, please.
[door closes]
[distant chatter in
foreign language]
[horn honks]
[lively chatter in
foreign language]
-[sombre orchestral music]
-[chatter in foreign language]
[chatter in foreign language]
[door opens and closes]
-[door opens]
-[distant chatter]
[door closes]
This can't go on.
For you, for me, for us.
Something must be done.
[children yell and chatter]
[Harry] I just get
'em all together.
Arrange a meeting point.
Fine! They're
having a good time.
Yeah, that's what worries me.
Oi, you lot! Gather round!
[children laugh]
Sorry about this. It's been
arranged weeks, youth club.
They'd have killed me
if I'd have cancelled.
Oh, don't worry. It's
good to be around kids.
So, Jean-Paul insists
you have another go?
Yeah.
Bless him.
But [sighs] I don't
know if I can.
Well, I mean, I can.
But I don't know
whether I want to.
No.
I want to.
But you don't know if
you want to risk it?
Yeah.
And Jean-Paul.
He wants to, I know he
does, because of me.
Oh, god, I don't know.
It's a bloody tangle.
-Poor old Jean-Paul.
-[Harry chuckles]
[children laugh]
Poor old Jean-Paul? I'd swap
him any day of the week.
-Calm down!
-[children laugh]
Anyway, I thought
Jean-Paul was your problem?
He was, but he's hit
the road of Damascus.
And it's different
for him, I mean...
I don't know, he doesn't...
He just, he doesn't seem
to get so involved as me.
Don't you believe it.
Maybe, maybe there's
something he can't face.
[Alice] Like what?
Spending the rest of his life
with an emotional cripple.
Alice, shift your focus.
Look at it from the
baby's point of view.
-Chico's dead.
-No, he's not.
There are hundreds of Chicos,
millions all over the world.
He's over there, giggling
at that table, wide-eyed.
Minds like buckets,
waiting to be filled.
Pocket philosophy, Harry.
That's Holy Harry talking.
Give me some decent
advice, for god's sake.
Follow your instincts.
That need you feel is not there
by accident. It's God-given.
Without that around, no kids
in the world would survive.
[sighs] I'm just scared, Harry.
Well, so what? Well,
look at the prize!
It makes coming up
on the pools like
winning your hockey colours.
[Alice chuckles]
I never did win
me hockey colours.
Oh, come on. I put
you up to this.
Let's see it through, eh?
[both chuckle]
[Alice] Okay. I'll
have another go.
-[children chatter]
-[swing squeaks]
Two halves of bitter.
-[speaks foreign language]
-[Alice laughs]
Oh, my god. You must
be an anglophile.
[sighs] Sunday at anglaise.
At home now, I'd be force-fed
a huge French lunch,
outside, all will be closed,
shuttered, pious, at peace.
-Come off!
-Yes.
Here, you mix, talk,
congregate, enjoy. I love it.
-Cheers.
-[chuckles] Cheers.
-So, he arrives tomorrow?
-Paris.
-You're terrified, yes?
-Terrified?
I spend my whole life
being terrified these days.
Yeah, someone's bringing
him over tomorrow.
-I've got some snaps.
-Oh, photographs, yes?
Yeah.
It's not the same, but
it gave me some idea.
[Nicole speaks foreign language]
Six months.
I asked for a baby as old
as Chico would've been.
-And his name?
-The same.
We're calling him Chico.
I've, I've got a feeling.
I feel I know that
Chico's substance,
you know, him,
the part of him that I
loved, I'll find again.
Does that sound crazy to you?
Oui.
Very crazy.
[Alice laughs]
Nicole, you're wonderful.
No wonder I fell for
your brother. [chuckles]
[brooding orchestral music]
[woman speaks foreign language]
We haven't seen her.
We've been here two hours.
I know, I know, I
know. Blue dress.
Okay, I got Luis. She
definitely got on that plane.
This is hopeless.
[sighs] No blue dress, huh?
Thousands.
Every bloody woman with
a baby's wearing one,
but not one's ours.
-You're sure?
-Of course I'm sure!
I ask! What do you
think I am, stupid?
It's a bloody conspiracy.
Well, she's gotta
be here somewhere.
Oh, sorry, it's just typical.
For us, it's typical.
Look, we'll have her paged.
What if she hasn't got French?
In Spanish and if they
don't speak Spanish,
-then you'll do it yourself.
-Okay.
[announcement in
foreign language]
If she's here, she'll call.
The white phone.
[PA system chimes]
[announcement in
foreign language]
[phone rings]
[Alice] Si?
[speaks foreign language]
[mumbles]
Hello? [sighs]
[phone clacks]
[announcement in
foreign language]
[phone rings]
Hello?
Si!
Teresa, is it?
Oh, thank god!
It's her.
[chuckles]
Don't move! Stay there,
we're on our way!
Oh, god!
She was getting desperate,
she's been here two hours!
Where?
-Where is she?
-Oh, my god, I forgot to ask.
-You forgot to ask?
-Oh, my god, yeah!
Where the hell can she be?
Oh, Christ! That
means we've lost her!
All right, shut up. Come on.
Shut up. Calm down now.
[speaks foreign language]
[speaks foreign language]
[speaks foreign language]
Okay, transit lounge. Let's go.
We'll pick them up as
we go for our plane.
[suspenseful music]
[chatter in foreign language]
God, where do we start?
We have a half-hour.
What do you mean, half an hour?
Before our plane
leaves for London.
To hell with that!
There's thousands of planes.
There's only one Teresa.
It's the last one today.
Then we should've
fixed a meeting place!
Yes, we should. We should have
done a lot of things, okay?
Now, silence and start looking!
Best we split. You go
this way, I go that way.
And I'll meet you
there in 15 minutes.
-[chatter in foreign language]
-[suspenseful music]
[distant baby cries]
Teresa?
[distant baby cries]
Excusez moi.
Teresa?
[distant baby cries]
Teresa?
[distant baby cries]
Teresa?
[Announcer] Ladies and
gentlemen, flight 6142 to London
is now ready for
boarding at gate nine.
Alice?
-Alice.
-God, she'll go back.
I know she will!
She'll take him back.
Okay, come here and
sit down for a minute.
We haven't got time!
We have a lifetime.
All right?
-Okay.
-Okay.
Watch the bags.
I'll get us a drink.
-[Alice sighs]
-[distant woman chuckles]
[woman speaks foreign language]
[baby coos]
-[woman chuckles]
-[baby coos]
[baby coos]
[woman hums]
[baby blows a raspberry]
[woman chuckles]
[baby coos]
Teresa?
Si. Alice?
Si.
Oh, thank god.
Chico.
Raul. His name is Raul.
No, Chico.
His name is Chico.
-[warm acoustic music]
-Hello, Chico.
Remember me?
I'm here.
You've come home.
[chuckles]
[upbeat music]
[plane engines roar]
[Woman] Passport, please.
[Alice] Oh, I'm sorry.
Could you hold him a second?
Hello.
Come on. Yes, come to Mommy.
[woman sighs]
And the baby?
You must have!
Thanks.
[Woman] There's a new one
for you. Complications.
What do you think?
-Seems okay.
-Seems, Smith, seems.
And who are you, sir?
Her boyfriend.
-And where are you from?
-Paris.
Next desk, please!
Follow me. You come, too.
[muffled chatter in
foreign language]
[Alice] Mother's consent.
Medical report.
Birth certificate.
Mademoiselle Dantre Cousteau.
Madame.
[Woman] Madame, why are these
documents only in Spanish?
Because he speaks Spanish.
Or he would do, if
he was old enough,
and he stayed
where he came from.
His mother, his natural mother,
as opposed to his mother
now, me, spoke Spanish.
All documents should
be in English,
if you wish to adopt in Britain.
I do, madam. I do.
Good. And it's miss.
Now, you live in Britain?
In France.
Why France?
Why not?
I live in France.
Are you adopting, too?
My husband, I'm a
widow, was French.
I have a house there
in the Bourgogne.
Oh, it's beautiful there.
My wife and I went grape
picking through it.
Well, before we got married.
Really? Which part?
Near Dijon, actually.
-Oh, lovely.
-Yeah, very nice.
Do you mind?
So, why do you wish
to adopt in Britain?
Well, wouldn't you,
if you had the choice?
You see what I mean.
How can I see what you mean?
This says acting
with a consent of...
Well, that must be "biological
mother and father".
With a consent of
the biological-
Look, um, may I translate?
-Alice.
-[Alice sighs]
No, this is the mother's
consent. Oh. [chuckles]
I'm sorry. [laughs]
He's no terrorist, but he's
been known to drop a few bombs.
Smith, since you seem
to find this so amusing,
you can deal with this.
It's not really our baby.
Let Social Services
deal with it.
[Chico blows a raspberry]
[warm music]
Nicole.
Look who's here!
[car door slams]
He's so beautiful.
Look! Look who's here,
it's your auntie!
[chatter in foreign language]
-[Jean-Paul chuckles]
-Oh, god.
Your Auntie Nicole.
What am I, a criminal
or something?
I'm fed up of being
treated like a miserable,
devious little criminal!
Ever since I came back,
I've been met with nothing
but pig-headed hostility and
suspicion, for god's sake!
Mrs. Cousteau, all this
must be confidential,
for your own sake.
Please keep your voice down.
Now, we have to be
certain he is your child.
Look, you've got the papers.
His birth certificate,
the mother's consent,
all the rubbish I had
to get to get him.
Now, what the hell
more do you want?
Did you meet her?
-Who?
-The mother.
No.
But her consent was obtained?
[Alice] Yes! Of course it was.
Her written consent?
Chico was brought
to me in Paris.
Luis, the lawyer, arranged
it. We paid a lawyer.
Who, his embassy says,
is entirely unscrupulous.
So what? They're
all unscrupulous.
The whole damn country's
bent as a nine-bob note.
We're not heartless. We
recognise your good intentions.
Realise you may
have been deceived.
But there is a
trade in children.
Almost a slave trade,
throughout the third world.
The statistics are appalling.
Many "lawyers" end up in jail.
They abduct, bribe, threaten.
You pay these lawyers
a great deal of money.
And how much of that do you
think went in paying people off?
Did you see any
money change hands?
No, only, my boyfriend
gave her, the mother,
some money, but it was a
tip, it was just a tip!
Alice, I think that
was the first baby.
Okay, here he is. Send him
back, this statistic of yours.
Maybe it'll help make you feel
a little less human
than you already are.
We've no wish to take him back
but what we must sort out,
and it's a hell of a tangle,
is what his status is now,
at this moment in time.
It's all there in the papers.
I'm waiting for the lawyer
to take the final application
through their courts.
Having slipped the baby out
through a legal loophole.
An escape hole, yes. Save
the agony of waiting.
What're you thinking?
Tell me.
What we're thinking is
what an unsavoury
business it all is.
Unsavoury? What's
unsavoury about it?
The subterfuge. All
this talk of escape.
Have you been there? What
else would you call it?
You could try "exploitation".
My god! "Exploitation"!
These kids are exploited from
the moment they draw breath!
If they get that far.
Don't you think I felt
it when I was over there?
I agonised over this,
believe me, but now nobody,
nobody will convince me that
Chico's not better off here
than begging on those
godforsaken streets.
Some would say you've
stolen him from his culture.
Culture? What is this culture?
You people always
talk about culture.
His heritage. His roots.
[Alice] His race, you mean.
It's something you'll
have to deal with.
You're white, he'll
be regarded as black.
I'm dealing with
it now, aren't I?
Would you object
if he was Irish?
Would you demand that
we teach him how to jig
and wean him onto Guinness?
Or if he was a
blonde little Dane?
Fill him chock-full of
herring? No, you're bigots!
You're talking about skin!
The colour of his skin.
Sustaining the very racism
you profess to deplore.
If we spent the money
helping them fight,
improving their conditions,
instead of lining the
pockets of dodgy lawyers-
Oh, yeah, if's a
big word, isn't it?
It's been hanging
around for years.
Meanwhile, couples like us go
childless and Chicos starve.
Let's talk
practicalities, shall we?
He's here, now,
waiting and helpless.
What the hell are you
gonna do about it?
Yes, he's here,
and like it or not,
we must do our best for him.
Okay, now if Chico is
going to be British,
we best get moving.
The first thing you'll
need is an English lawyer,
or to put a boot
up the Home Office.
It's a single
parent application?
-Yeah.
-And the Parisian dad?
Well, we're not married,
so I'm not going to ask him
to commit on these grounds.
Emotional blackmail, you mean?
Okay, it's a rocky road,
but not unnavigable.
Look, if you need any more
help, you'll let me know?
Yeah. Thank you.
But why?
We may disgree on the
whys and wherefores, but,
we're all rooting for Chico.
Now may I hold him and see
what all this fuss is about?
Yeah, that...
-[chico babbles]
-Yeah, here he is.
Okay.
[Chico grunts]
He's a handsome little
fellow, isn't he?
Yeah. Very.
[Man] Chico, no wonder your
mother had her talons out.
[suspenseful music]
[Alice] What?
Oh, no. In god's name, why?
And now?
Why now?
Why in god's name now?
But they've known all along.
Why are they suddenly
taking this tack?
What the hell am
I paying you for?
Moral ground? You don't know
the meaning of the word.
It's Luis, he...
Okay, okay. I'll have a word
with him, see what I can do.
They insist. All right.
[sighs] Hypocritical sods.
What?
Their government over
there have suddenly decided
they don't approve of
His Lordship and me.
[Nicole] Oh, no. As parents?
No! As livers in sin!
[both laugh]
What's so funny?
Tell me, what's so funny?
[women laugh]
I, Alice Patricia.
[Alice] I, Alice Patricia.
Take thee, Jean-Paul.
[Alice] Take thee, Jean-Paul.
[Chico babbles]
To be my lawful wedded husband.
To be my lawful wedded husband.
[Priest] To have, to hold,
for richer, for poorer.
To have, to hold, for
richer or for poorer.
In sickness or in health.
In sickness or in health.
[Priest] To love and to cherish.
[Alice] To love and to cherish.
[Priest] Till death us do part.
[Alice] Till death us do part.
[Priest] According
to God's holy law,
and this is my solemn vow.
[Alice] According
to God's holy law,
and this is my solemn vow.
There you go, love.
[lively background chatter]
Ladies and gentlemen, a toast!
-Toast!
-Alice and Jean-Paul.
Health and long happiness.
[Guests] Alice and Jean-Paul.
Speech, speech!
Jean-Paul, I demand a reply.
Well, um, ladies and gentlemen,
and Mademoiselle,
it has long been the
tradition of our species
for the child to be the
welcome fruit of marriage.
But in our case, Alice and me,
marriage has been the
fruit of the child.
[guests laugh]
For opening my eyes to
the joys of fatherhood,
and for giving me the
courage to say "yes"
to Alice's ultimatum.
[guests laugh]
I give you our son,
I give you Chico!
[Guests] Chico!
My name is Stuart Whittaker.
I'm what is called
a Guardian Ad Litem.
I've been appointed
by the local authority
to provide an
individual assessment.
Oh, here we go again.
How many more times do we
have to go through this?
An assessment of what?
Of the situation.
Of the situation? We're
still a situation?
Not Alice, not me, not
the baby, but a situation?
The proposed adoption.
And for who? Who, now
who is doing the digging?
Ostensibly, the authority,
but I don't see it that way.
And how do you see it?
It'd be interesting
to hear your view.
We're like goldfish here.
I work on your behalf
and the child's.
I observe, question,
assess, using my
professional judgement .
To what end?
To ensure the relationship
is viable, secure,
potentially lasting.
Whose relationship?
Ours? Alice and me?
That's a large part of it, yes.
That's none of
your damn business.
-Jean-Paul.
-No, no.
[speaks foreign language]
I'm up to here with
them. With all of them.
[sighs]
And the other part?
Chico. He's too young
to judge for himself.
They say you can't
pick your parents,
but in these cases, you can,
or have someone do it for you.
Did you pick your parents?
Did someone line them
up on a cattle market,
poke them about for you?
No.
And what if Chico was ours?
I mean, from us, out of us.
Would we have to suffer
this, this third-degree?
No, anyone can breed
like the rabbits.
Starve, neglect, abuse,
and do they get questioned?
Do they get grilled? Who takes
care of their kids interests?
Read your papers, man. Read
your wonderful British papers.
Adoption is unique,
presenting different problems,
not experienced in
normal parenting.
Oh, and what are we, children?
Can't we handle our own lives?
I mean, who do you think
you are with your language?
With your "parenting"?
What the hell do you
mean by "parenting"?
[Chico cries]
Oh, Jean-Paul, I think
he'll need changing.
Do you mind, love?
I'll make coffee.
Do you want to come in?
See a bit of parenting?
See me beat the
daylights out of him?
[Chico cries]
-[Chico cries]
-[muffled chatter]
Kettle's on.
[sighs] I'm sorry.
He's French, it's...
It's a short fuse.
He just loves Chico.
It happens a lot, French or not.
Intrusion is hard to
swallow, but necessary.
The law, I'm
afraid, requires it.
You realise we have been through
an awful lot of this already.
One tends to despair.
When it comes to
the final crunch,
who finally decides?
Who'll tell us, yes or no?
A judge in chambers,
on my recommendations.
So this is it? The final hurdle.
We're in the home straight?
The post's in sight.
I must ask you now to
look at yourselves.
Why, simply, you are together.
No! No, it is not your
right to know these things.
To ask them! Things that we
don't even know ourselves.
We married because it was
asked of us, for Chico.
Without him, would we
have done it? Who knows!
Without him, we
wouldn't be here.
You wouldn't be here
wanting to know!
Alice, that is not his business.
We are here, as we are. If
that's no good, then too bad.
We love each other,
we love Chico.
No more! You need
to know no more!
So, now you go.
Chico, we take him,
whether you like it or not.
And to hell with all of you. Go!
[door opens]
[door slams]
[Alice] Such a good boy.
Going to be a good
boy today for Mommy?
Are you?
Are you?
Come on.
-Wash our hands.
-[water splashes]
[toilet flushes]
[faucet squeaks]
[sombre orchestral music]
[Judge] Good luck.
[door closes]
[distant chatter]
[Alice] Where's Daddy gone?
[door creaks]
[door closes]
[clock ticks]
It is not required that I wear
a wig and robe in chambers,
but believe me, I
am a real judge.
Hm.
Hm.
[Chico coos]
Well, Mr. And Mrs. Quano,
I see nothing here.
No reason why this little
fellow shouldn't be yours.
[Alice sobs]
[Jean-Paul sighs]
[Alice sobs]
[peaceful music]
[Jean-Paul chuckles]
Nicole! He's done it!
He's done it.
We've got him.
Harry!
-You did it?
-Yeah.
-I told you.
-I know you did, I know.
-Hi, thanks, Maria.
-Congratulations.
Thanks, Dave.
Hi!
[Jean-Paul laughs]
Woo! [laughs]
[warm orchestral music]
[upbeat music]
[peaceful orchestral music]
-[birds tweet]
[priest chants in
foreign language]
[congregation chants
in foreign language]
[priest chants in
foreign language]
[congregation chants
in foreign language]
[priest chants in
foreign language]
[congregation chants
in foreign language]
[priest chants in
foreign language]
[choir sings in
foreign language]
[priest sings in
foreign language]
[congregation sings
in foreign language]
-[sombre orchestral music]
-[singing in foreign language]
[Alice moans and
breathes heavily]
[woman speaks foreign language]
[Alice moans]
[Woman] Alice!
Alice!
[Alice groans]
[man speaks foreign language]
[Alice whines]
[birds tweet]
[Harry] Did they
say why? The baby?
Shock. They said it was shock.
[sighs]
Anger, more like.
You've plenty of time.
[Alice] For what?
To marry again.
Oh, just like that?
[Harry] Well, no,
not just like that.
How, then?
Sorry, I don't know
what I'm talking about.
No, no. It's very revealing.
You're an old mate.
How do I go about it?
Well, I don't know,
but it happens.
No, it does not. Not
to me, it doesn't.
Maybe men are different. Maybe
other women, I don't know.
But I take the whole thing
seriously. Maybe too seriously.
Do you know how long I knew
Philippe before I finally agreed
to give it all up,
being just me, I mean?
Four years. Four
long, hard years.
It's a painful business
getting to know someone enough.
Enough to love them and
want to have their children.
Not something that just
happens. Believe me.
You make it sound like coming
through cancer or something.
Do I?
Well, if I do, I'm wrong.
It's wonderful.
You finally abandon yourself.
Link up for life with
a separate being.
Wonderful.
I lost the lot two years ago.
He didn't just kill himself.
The miscarriage damaged me.
I'm barren, Harry.
Children are just
no longer possible.
Of course, you've
thought about adopting?
Oh, thought about
it, I've scrubbed it,
shoved it through the mangler
and hung it out to dry.
It's hopeless.
In England, I'm 42 and manless.
I mean, god help us,
I must be joking.
The French look at
me as if I'm daft.
[speaks foreign language]
Millions of motherless
kids and one kidless mother
and the stupid sods
can't get us together.
[sighs] Such a damn shame.
I mean, look at this place.
It's huge.
It's all mine now.
Well, at school,
we always knew you were
meant for better things.
-You always were a class act.
-[Alice chuckles]
Well, you weren't so
bad yourself. Even then.
A bit serious.
"Holy Harry" we called you.
Did you know that?
I had an inkling. [chuckles]
I mean, all this.
I want to share it!
Needs kids to make
it come alive.
[sighs] What about
America? Central America.
[Alice] No, it's no good
unless you're married.
Well, there's a friend of mine,
English woman,
now lives in Nice.
She has a child, an
adopted child from there.
But?
[Harry] She's married.
Yeah, well par for the course.
But I'm pretty certain,
in fact, I know...
-What?
-Well, she married later.
After she got her son.
You say certain. How certain?
Certain.
[brooding orchestral music]
Have you got her number?
Somewhere, yes. I always
call her when I come over.
Harry, you know what
you're doing to me.
Don't, for god's sake, go
on, unless you're sure.
I am sure! I spoke to her
only a couple of weeks ago.
Kid's fine. As
French as they come.
[paper rustles]
Here it is. I'll give it a ring.
If you're wrong, Harry...
Hello, Helen?
It's Harry. Yes.
Yes, I'm fine, thank you.
How's your little boy?
Good. Good, yes.
Well, that's what I want
to talk to you about.
[Alice breathes deeply]
Please, God.
Just this once, give me a break.
-[horn honks]
-[traffic roars]
-Oh, my god, you're not bad.
-[Jean-Paul sighs]
-What do you mean, "not bad"?
-[Alice laughs]
A little bad, a little
bad is good, no?
-Oui.
-Oui.
-Not bad's pretty good.
-[sighs] Good.
-Or should I say "bad"?
-[Alice chuckles]
Aww.
I love coming here.
I've grown quite
fond of that scene.
Well, maybe someday I
should take a look at it.
Now don't let's start
getting complicated.
[both chuckle]
Jean-Paul?
[Jean-Paul] Oui?
[Alice] I'm afraid I am
going to complicate matters.
[Jean-Paul] Well,
that would be a shame.
I want to adopt a baby.
Alice, we've been
through that before.
I know, I know!
What we've got is precious.
Marriage will probably spoil it.
Well, I don't know. We've
always believed it would.
But I wouldn't ask it of
you anyway, or myself!
-Once is enough for both of us.
-Yeah, for the time being.
But if I manage to
find a way without it,
marriage, I mean,
would a baby end us?
You and me?
[Jean-Paul sighs]
You mean
what we have is not enough?
[Alice sighs]
I just don't feel complete.
And what about the child?
Would his life be
complete with us?
We're just a couple
of kids, Alice.
That's why we enjoy
each other so much.
But maybe we deceive ourselves.
Maybe we're old
enough to know better.
Well, we're not too old.
Too old would be worse.
I don't think it's wise.
You see, what's dangerous-
Oh, don't give me
that macho crap about
someone else's
issue, alien blood!
I've had it from the
in-laws till my flesh-
No, no, no! Alice!
Alice.
I fear, so it has to be faced,
someone else's child,
a foreign child.
I fear how I will-
Oh, well hard
bloody luck for you!
Alice!
[door slams]
Merde. Alice!
-[sighs]
-[muffled water splashes]
I want you to to be happy!
If you're not happy, then
something must be done!
Alice!
I'm not sure that
this is the way.
I'm not sure, but...
[sighs]
Okay.
I'm with you.
-Wah!
-Oh!
God, help me.
Oh!
[both laugh]
Okay, we're in this together.
-Oh, I'm crazy!
-I know!
Oh!
-[Alice giggles]
-[Jean-Paul moans]
[water splashes]
Madame Alice?
Alice Dantre Cousteau.
A good name.
Yes, a fine sounding name.
That's a good start.
Yes.
Si, si, I understand.
Si.
Of course I can help.
It's my business to help.
That's what I'm here for.
The first step?
The first step is a vulgar
one, I'm afraid. The fee.
$10,000.
Here, everything
costs money. Si.
In London, too. [chuckles]
How's the weather there?
Ah, sorry. Now, I'll need
several things from you.
First, a medical
certificate of health, yes.
Then a statement from your bank.
A social worker's report.
For that, you'll have to pay.
Also, a psychiatrist's report.
Silly, yes, but silliest
of all, and most important,
a crazy American aptitude test.
[Alice] "The second Milwaukee."
"The second Milwaukee Mind
and Personality
Aptitude Assessment."
Don't laugh. Their
government acts on that.
What?
"Would you like to
hunt lions in Africa?"
It's as good a place
as any. [giggles]
Do you know what amazes
me, Nicole? Terrifies me?
[Nicole] What?
Is that somewhere,
he's out there.
Over there.
Maybe not even born yet.
Maybe still being
carried, but meant,
meant, finally, for me.
[Nicole speaks foreign language]
-I'll be a good mother.
-Sure. [chuckles]
But it would still
be better for him.
[sighs] It's common sense.
What is?
To stay with his mother!
His natural mother.
They can't. That's
the whole point.
The poor mothers can't cope.
Mm, all over the world.
It breaks your heart.
Yeah, exactly.
The child's mother and those
like her don't have to.
Their kids have got a
chance and they know it.
People like me
give them a chance.
I know.
It's sad, that's all.
Don't you think I know it's sad?
It's sad your
brother was killed.
It's sad I can't
have kids of my own.
And there's all these people,
all this rubbish designed,
determined to stop me from
doing something about it.
Perhaps it's got a purpose.
If I want to hunt
lions in Africa?
No, [chuckles] not that.
The rest.
We know you, okay?
But the child, he doesn't!
He can't ask, check.
So, all these others
must do it for him.
Yeah, and make a fast
buck on the side.
C'est la vie.
And why bring him here?
Why not France?
Deep down, you
don't trust us, yes?
Well, maybe I trust us
more. I don't know why.
Maybe I prefer the enemy I know.
Maybe I just want
him to be British.
That's how you see it, is it?
A battle?
They're lined up out there,
waiting to find the worst.
God knows I don't know
what it is they're after.
If I did, I'd put
on some sort of act.
Anything to send
them off satisfied.
Declaration of assets.
Confirmation that the account
has been in credit
since you opened it.
Your credit worthiness.
A recent statement.
And, yes.
[Man] Okay.
There you are, Madame.
El Presidente himself could
not fail to be impressed.
Thank you.
-Bye bye.
-Goodbye.
It's okay.
With you, I should hope so.
What now, and where?
Now, ma cher,
comes the hard bit.
Convincing ourselves
that I'm completely sane.
-[horn honks]
-[traffic hums]
-Your childhood?
-Yes, very happy.
Uh, my mother was...
Normally loving? Attentive?
And your father?
[Alice] Well...
Was a little distant.
Very.
Canada.
He left my mother
when I was two.
And his absence?
Well, you don't miss
what you don't have.
Well, um...
There were times when I
wished I'd had a father, yeah.
But, uh...
Anything else?
Um...
No.
The death of your husband.
Yeah.
[Psychiatrist] Tell me about it.
Well, it was a boating accident.
How it affected you.
How you coped.
Oh.
Well...
It was a painful experience.
But you quickly adjusted?
No. Not quickly, no.
But, um...
You readjusted.
After a while.
No resentment?
Anger?
No. Why should there be?
I mean, I was left
with no children.
But he left me
well provided for.
If I felt any anger, it
was against, well, fate.
At the senselessness of it all.
I mean, it was all
so bloody stupid.
[sighs]
Now...
How would you describe your
relationship with your lover?
He exists?
Yes, he does. [chuckles]
[Psychiatrist]
Tell me about him.
I can't approach your
case as a single parent
whilst you're pursuing
a relationship.
To all intents and
purposes, you're a couple,
and it's only right
I regard you as such.
It's only right that you
do what's right for me!
I mean, I'm paying
you, for god's sake!
I'm a professional
social worker, okay?
Now, you've hired me
to produce the report,
but that doesn't mean I renounce
my responsibility to the child.
And it is right for
you that every aspect
of the prospectus situation
is weighed and examined now,
before the wheels
are set in motion.
Yes.
Sorry.
I was just scared.
It is scary, adopting a child.
Especially from abroad.
But there's no reason that
Jean-Paul's involvement
should jeopardise the
process in any shape or form.
It might even enhance it.
Now, he knows?
Yes.
Approves?
He's supporting.
[sighs] Oh, I don't know. Is
all this really necessary?
It is pretty damn well private.
[Social Worker] Very.
[sighs] Well...
We're good.
Together.
-Sexually, you mean?
-Yes.
And we wanted that to be
all. For it to end there.
-For that to be enough.
-But it wasn't?
-For me, no.
-And him?
Well, if it was, he'd
have run and he hasn't.
-So, it can't have been.
-It never is.
And if it is, it doesn't last.
Fortunately, a baby expects
more of us than that.
If there is a relationship,
it needs to be a stable one.
Now...
Why?
Why do you want to adopt?
It's obvious, isn't
it? I mean, I'm female!
[Social Worker]
Believe me, these days,
that doesn't mean a thing.
I want to... [sighs]
I want to hold a baby.
I want to, to love a baby.
To, to care for him.
To help him to grow.
Oh, god, it sounds
so bloody stupid!
[sighs]
I'm 42.
I've got money, a beautiful
house, a man who says
he loves me and god knows
I don't feel complete.
Well, don't ask a
baby to complete you.
You mustn't ask anything
of him. Nothing at all.
Just be prepared to
give. Give and no return.
Anything you do receive
will then be a bonus.
Social worker's home study,
psychiatrist's report,
personality assessment,
medical report,
bank and character references,
and finally, your
own sworn affidavit.
It's post-haste,
transatlantic. Pronto.
Congratulations.
You've emerged with
flying colours.
Thanks.
You know, you've got
a lot to answer for.
If you hadn't come
out on holiday-
[Harry] Happy to plead guilty.
I've never seen you so content.
[Alice] Yeah, yeah. I know.
-Senora?
-Oh.
I'm relieved. I'm
at least eligible.
Or we are. Got to start
thinking of "we" again now.
How is Jean-Paul?
Well, to be honest, he's
finding it a bit of a struggle.
Oh, that's good. A
struggle can be healthy.
No avoiding the issues.
Well, yes. I'm lined
up for the big race.
I can see all the horrors ahead,
but remain convinced
I'm gonna win.
And no doubt you will.
My money's on your nose.
[Alice] Oh, thank you.
I come under orders.
I thought you'd been cleared?
Well, I have. We both have,
for over there, to apply.
But it's not stamped and
sealed, nor for Britain,
and I want him
adopted in Britain.
It's full of land mines.
I thought you said we were
over our limit, age-wise?
Yeah, I am, to adopt
an English baby.
But mine will be ours when
he arrives. A fait accompli.
I just want it
all ratified here.
I want him to be
British. A citizen.
-And brought up in France?
-Yeah. [chuckles]
-Does that sound daft?
-No, what's the EC for?
Mm.
Reminds me of home.
-France?
-No, West Brom.
[both chuckle]
[chatter in foreign language]
Oh.
Grazie.
[chatter in foreign language]
Um...
Yeah. Thanks.
I've got that.
Merci, thanks. Merci.
Jean-Paul.
He's had a call.
There's a baby.
A little boy.
They've got a baby over there.
Five weeks old.
[chuckles] They want me
to fly out straight away.
Oh, god.
[chuckles]
Bambino mio.
[engines roar]
[muffled chatter in
foreign language]
-Madame Dantre Cousteau?
-Si.
Si! Luis, Luis Perez.
Welcome to my, to our city.
Jean-Paul. My wife, Pilar.
Lousy journey, it's hard.
We're tucked away in the
armpits of the Americas,
but we make for
it in hospitality.
Come.
For you, it's a rest. A
soak in the tub and a rest.
We'll talk later, maybe
eat. I know the journey.
You have had more
meals than hot meals.
They just keep wheeling them in.
That's what you say, isn't it?
-Hot meals.
-Yeah.
I got that from a couple
from Leeds, I think.
They took a baby girl,
delighted. They still write.
Luis, no more.
You talk too much.
What about our
passports and things?
Relax, honey,
there's no problem.
[car starts]
[plane engines roar]
[upbeat music in
foreign language]
Our building. Everything is new.
We brought everything
from Miami.
That's why it's comfortable.
[woman speaks foreign language]
We'll just need your name
and signature. That's all.
For you, to brighten
your first day here.
It's always hard, and Luis,
some can make themselves blind.
I hope these will help.
Oh, yes. Thank you,
they're lovely.
I'm just a bit
tired. That's all.
Okay? Anything else?
If I will leave you
to get some sleep?
Well, yes, there is!
Well, name it.
When?
Pardon me?
The lady wants to know when.
Pardon, senora. Tomorrow.
After a rest and a nice
lunch beside the pool,
then you'll meet your son.
[Alice and Jean-Paul chuckle]
[brooding orchestral music]
Good afternoon!
Sleep well? Room okay?
I'd call you, but
you'd be dead awake.
Wonderful hotel, si?
Have you tried the buffet?
Pilar and I, we love it here.
We come here all the time.
Is this the child?
May I present you,
Bonita. Bonita Gomez.
She's very nervous. I mean,
this place, it scares me.
[Alice] Yeah.
May I see him?
[Luis chuckles]
His name, uh, Chico.
Oh.
[baby coos]
[sighs]
Slip her a few dollars.
Not too much, let's say 50.
It's customary.
Gracias. Muchas...
Muchas gracias.
[Luis speaks foreign language]
Well, where's she going?
-It's better.
-Oh, no, no!
-I must, I can't, you can't!
-No, no, it's better.
You have the baby,
that's what you came for.
-No.
-She's happy, she knows that.
I want, just...
-I must explain to her!
-Senora, senora.
The baby, the baby.
Now you must think only of him.
I mean, Pilar has had
your suite arranged.
Diapers, cream,
feeding stuff. The lot.
And she'll help you for a while.
But now? Now Chico is yours.
I mean, it's better that we
take the cow by the horns.
[chuckles]
He wants to get to know
his mommy. Let him.
[melancholy orchestral music]
[Chico breathes heavily]
Shh.
I'll make a deal with you.
You be good to her,
and I'll be good to you.
Okay?
Yes?
[baby coos]
[upbeat music]
Oh, look! A parrot!
Hello!
The baby.
How come?
Oh, he's adopted. Two days.
[man speaks foreign language]
A lucky boy.
Yeah, thank you.
[man speaks foreign language]
[melancholy orchestral music]
Sometimes I think what a hell
of a way to make a living.
Taking kids from their mothers.
Okay, there's no other
way, they've got no hope.
Helpless kids, themselves.
Chico here, his mom, poor kid,
she had nothing else
to do but suffer.
Her eyes looked sort
of terribly dead.
She nearly was, having
him, out in la fosa.
And there, they don't last long.
La fosa?
The grave?
That's what they call it
and that's what it is.
I swear to god, more
die there than live.
But more keep getting born
there, that's for sure.
Luis says we do a service.
Oh, you do. Believe me, you do.
I guess we do.
People like you, we make happy.
[sighs] And make money doing it.
Mothers out in la
fosa, we make sad.
Though, no more sad, I
guess, than they already are.
[Chico coos]
You're all he's got now, Alice.
How you got him is history.
-Pilar?
-Mm?
I want to go to la fosa.
[Pilar] Alice, this
is not a good idea.
[Alice] I don't care. I
just need to talk to her.
-[baby cries]
-[distant chatter and yelling]
[car door slams]
[dog barks]
Alice!
[suspenseful music]
[dog barks]
Alice, come away.
This is a bad place.
At least give me the baby.
No, no.
Wait a moment.
[brooding orchestral music]
[child cries]
[door closes]
Alice, please. We
must leave, now.
Yeah.
I know, yeah. You're right.
Just wanted to see, that's all.
[child cries]
We can't take him with us?
No. Not now.
Soon, yes.
But he's mine.
You've said so for three weeks.
What the hell do
you think we've come
to this godforsaken
country for, a bloody tan?
Jesus.
What is it?
His mother. She doesn't
have the right papers.
-What?
-She's here illegally.
Illegally?
It makes things easier,
but fixing it takes time.
Easier? You mean to take
their children off them?
A couple of weeks, maybe three.
If you'll like to stay, wait.
No, I do not want to
wait! I've had enough!
We're leaving!
And that means Chico, too.
No question, Chico comes too!
Alice, without the papers,
they won't let you out.
Well, get the
bloody papers, then!
[Chico coos]
[Jean-Paul] But then
why didn't you tell us
that it could take so long?
I thought you'd realise
these things take time.
[Jean-Paul] Luis.
Surely you should have
foreseen that in such a case-
There are problems
around every corner.
If you look for
them, you find them.
If they emerge,
I deal with them.
The others are best ignored!
Yeah.
In the meantime, we
just sit and wait, huh?
Well, if you want
my advice, go home!
Wait till it's all settled.
Then I'll have your
son brought to you.
-Is it two weeks?
-Two weeks, three, who knows?
Maybe a little
longer. These things-
So, we go home, without him.
Three weeks a parent is all I
get. That's my ration, is it?
Jesus!
Well, I'm staying. If it
takes years, I'm staying.
Alice, take my advice. Go home.
Your staying here would
only complicate matters.
Well, I'm sorry!
But becoming a mother
is a complicated matter.
Chico's mine and nothing or
nobody is gonna take him away!
But we're not taking him away,
just minding him for you.
There'll be things to do
back home, preparations.
Better than hanging around here.
Alice.
Pilar is right.
If we stay and
interfere at this stage,
we'll lose him forever.
I know it hurts, but trust me.
He's mine.
In every way, every
bone in my body says so.
I know. Believe
me, I understand.
You bring him to me.
Don't let me down.
[sobs]
We're helpless.
Helpless, Jean-Paul.
Just helpless.
It's like some fiend has got
me in the palm of his hand.
Waiting.
Waiting to give me a life.
Purpose.
Or just toss me away.
[sighs]
All we can do is hope that
he's favourably disposed.
To hell with him. We
master our own lives.
You found Chico and
Chico has found you.
There's a bond there.
Mother and son.
Whatever happens
can never be broken.
[birds tweet]
[joyful music]
[grunts]
[tarp rustles]
Tah-dah!
Have you done it?
-Say hello!
-Oh!
Brilliant.
I've gone absolutely mad.
Just couldn't stop.
Yeah.
[muffled chatter]
-Oh, great.
-Yeah.
Wow, it's so nice. I'd
sleep in it myself.
[Alice chuckles]
So, how long again?
One week, maybe two.
Chico's packed and ready.
Good.
Are you coming round?
You're happy, I'm happy.
To you.
To you.
-To Chico.
-To Chico!
[chuckles]
[phone rings]
Hello? Chateaux Dantre Cousteau.
[Alice speaks foreign language]
Hello?
Oh, Luis!
How are you?
What?
No, no, not at all!
It's about 7:15, it's about
time we were up. [chuckles]
So, how are things?
What can we do for you?
We're all set! We
can't wait over here!
No.
Oh, no.
[sighs]
No.
[phone clacks]
-No.
-What?
Hello, Luis? Jean-Paul.
What?
Oh, Jesus.
-[brooding orchestral music]
-[dog barks]
[indistinct yelling]
You bastard!
You cruel bloody bastard!
What have I done?
What have I ever done?
[sobs]
Meningitis, yeah.
Yeah, we understand.
And there was no way
of knowing, telling?
No.
Yeah, the conditions.
That I cannot tell you. It's
too early, it's too soon.
We'll need time.
Yeah, I guess so.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Adios.
[phone clicks]
It was...
I know. I heard.
Apparently, it happens.
These kids inherit infection.
He says we were lucky.
Lucky?
That we didn't take him.
Didn't bring him home.
We only had a glimpse.
It's easier to bear.
"Easier".
Is that what he said?
Easier?
[Jean-Paul sighs]
[Jean-Paul] I can see his point.
There is no easier.
My baby's dead!
He's a cold, heartless
bastard from a cold,
heartless bastard county and
you say you see his point?
Chico.
We could have
grown to love him.
I did love him.
An instant. That's all it takes.
Can't you see that, man?
Understand how it hurts?
[sobs]
Answer me.
Yes.
I can see that.
[sighs] You, you don't.
You can't.
You simply bloody can't.
But I'm sorry, you'll
just have to take my word.
[Jean-Paul sighs]
Luis, he wanted to know
if we're wanting to
look for another child.
Oh, Jean-Paul, not now.
For Christ's sake, not now.
Just get out and
leave me, please.
I'm sorry. I'm a fool.
I'm a pillock, right?
Okay.
Now just leave me, please.
[door closes]
[distant chatter in
foreign language]
[horn honks]
[lively chatter in
foreign language]
-[sombre orchestral music]
-[chatter in foreign language]
[chatter in foreign language]
[door opens and closes]
-[door opens]
-[distant chatter]
[door closes]
This can't go on.
For you, for me, for us.
Something must be done.
[children yell and chatter]
[Harry] I just get
'em all together.
Arrange a meeting point.
Fine! They're
having a good time.
Yeah, that's what worries me.
Oi, you lot! Gather round!
[children laugh]
Sorry about this. It's been
arranged weeks, youth club.
They'd have killed me
if I'd have cancelled.
Oh, don't worry. It's
good to be around kids.
So, Jean-Paul insists
you have another go?
Yeah.
Bless him.
But [sighs] I don't
know if I can.
Well, I mean, I can.
But I don't know
whether I want to.
No.
I want to.
But you don't know if
you want to risk it?
Yeah.
And Jean-Paul.
He wants to, I know he
does, because of me.
Oh, god, I don't know.
It's a bloody tangle.
-Poor old Jean-Paul.
-[Harry chuckles]
[children laugh]
Poor old Jean-Paul? I'd swap
him any day of the week.
-Calm down!
-[children laugh]
Anyway, I thought
Jean-Paul was your problem?
He was, but he's hit
the road of Damascus.
And it's different
for him, I mean...
I don't know, he doesn't...
He just, he doesn't seem
to get so involved as me.
Don't you believe it.
Maybe, maybe there's
something he can't face.
[Alice] Like what?
Spending the rest of his life
with an emotional cripple.
Alice, shift your focus.
Look at it from the
baby's point of view.
-Chico's dead.
-No, he's not.
There are hundreds of Chicos,
millions all over the world.
He's over there, giggling
at that table, wide-eyed.
Minds like buckets,
waiting to be filled.
Pocket philosophy, Harry.
That's Holy Harry talking.
Give me some decent
advice, for god's sake.
Follow your instincts.
That need you feel is not there
by accident. It's God-given.
Without that around, no kids
in the world would survive.
[sighs] I'm just scared, Harry.
Well, so what? Well,
look at the prize!
It makes coming up
on the pools like
winning your hockey colours.
[Alice chuckles]
I never did win
me hockey colours.
Oh, come on. I put
you up to this.
Let's see it through, eh?
[both chuckle]
[Alice] Okay. I'll
have another go.
-[children chatter]
-[swing squeaks]
Two halves of bitter.
-[speaks foreign language]
-[Alice laughs]
Oh, my god. You must
be an anglophile.
[sighs] Sunday at anglaise.
At home now, I'd be force-fed
a huge French lunch,
outside, all will be closed,
shuttered, pious, at peace.
-Come off!
-Yes.
Here, you mix, talk,
congregate, enjoy. I love it.
-Cheers.
-[chuckles] Cheers.
-So, he arrives tomorrow?
-Paris.
-You're terrified, yes?
-Terrified?
I spend my whole life
being terrified these days.
Yeah, someone's bringing
him over tomorrow.
-I've got some snaps.
-Oh, photographs, yes?
Yeah.
It's not the same, but
it gave me some idea.
[Nicole speaks foreign language]
Six months.
I asked for a baby as old
as Chico would've been.
-And his name?
-The same.
We're calling him Chico.
I've, I've got a feeling.
I feel I know that
Chico's substance,
you know, him,
the part of him that I
loved, I'll find again.
Does that sound crazy to you?
Oui.
Very crazy.
[Alice laughs]
Nicole, you're wonderful.
No wonder I fell for
your brother. [chuckles]
[brooding orchestral music]
[woman speaks foreign language]
We haven't seen her.
We've been here two hours.
I know, I know, I
know. Blue dress.
Okay, I got Luis. She
definitely got on that plane.
This is hopeless.
[sighs] No blue dress, huh?
Thousands.
Every bloody woman with
a baby's wearing one,
but not one's ours.
-You're sure?
-Of course I'm sure!
I ask! What do you
think I am, stupid?
It's a bloody conspiracy.
Well, she's gotta
be here somewhere.
Oh, sorry, it's just typical.
For us, it's typical.
Look, we'll have her paged.
What if she hasn't got French?
In Spanish and if they
don't speak Spanish,
-then you'll do it yourself.
-Okay.
[announcement in
foreign language]
If she's here, she'll call.
The white phone.
[PA system chimes]
[announcement in
foreign language]
[phone rings]
[Alice] Si?
[speaks foreign language]
[mumbles]
Hello? [sighs]
[phone clacks]
[announcement in
foreign language]
[phone rings]
Hello?
Si!
Teresa, is it?
Oh, thank god!
It's her.
[chuckles]
Don't move! Stay there,
we're on our way!
Oh, god!
She was getting desperate,
she's been here two hours!
Where?
-Where is she?
-Oh, my god, I forgot to ask.
-You forgot to ask?
-Oh, my god, yeah!
Where the hell can she be?
Oh, Christ! That
means we've lost her!
All right, shut up. Come on.
Shut up. Calm down now.
[speaks foreign language]
[speaks foreign language]
[speaks foreign language]
Okay, transit lounge. Let's go.
We'll pick them up as
we go for our plane.
[suspenseful music]
[chatter in foreign language]
God, where do we start?
We have a half-hour.
What do you mean, half an hour?
Before our plane
leaves for London.
To hell with that!
There's thousands of planes.
There's only one Teresa.
It's the last one today.
Then we should've
fixed a meeting place!
Yes, we should. We should have
done a lot of things, okay?
Now, silence and start looking!
Best we split. You go
this way, I go that way.
And I'll meet you
there in 15 minutes.
-[chatter in foreign language]
-[suspenseful music]
[distant baby cries]
Teresa?
[distant baby cries]
Excusez moi.
Teresa?
[distant baby cries]
Teresa?
[distant baby cries]
Teresa?
[Announcer] Ladies and
gentlemen, flight 6142 to London
is now ready for
boarding at gate nine.
Alice?
-Alice.
-God, she'll go back.
I know she will!
She'll take him back.
Okay, come here and
sit down for a minute.
We haven't got time!
We have a lifetime.
All right?
-Okay.
-Okay.
Watch the bags.
I'll get us a drink.
-[Alice sighs]
-[distant woman chuckles]
[woman speaks foreign language]
[baby coos]
-[woman chuckles]
-[baby coos]
[baby coos]
[woman hums]
[baby blows a raspberry]
[woman chuckles]
[baby coos]
Teresa?
Si. Alice?
Si.
Oh, thank god.
Chico.
Raul. His name is Raul.
No, Chico.
His name is Chico.
-[warm acoustic music]
-Hello, Chico.
Remember me?
I'm here.
You've come home.
[chuckles]
[upbeat music]
[plane engines roar]
[Woman] Passport, please.
[Alice] Oh, I'm sorry.
Could you hold him a second?
Hello.
Come on. Yes, come to Mommy.
[woman sighs]
And the baby?
You must have!
Thanks.
[Woman] There's a new one
for you. Complications.
What do you think?
-Seems okay.
-Seems, Smith, seems.
And who are you, sir?
Her boyfriend.
-And where are you from?
-Paris.
Next desk, please!
Follow me. You come, too.
[muffled chatter in
foreign language]
[Alice] Mother's consent.
Medical report.
Birth certificate.
Mademoiselle Dantre Cousteau.
Madame.
[Woman] Madame, why are these
documents only in Spanish?
Because he speaks Spanish.
Or he would do, if
he was old enough,
and he stayed
where he came from.
His mother, his natural mother,
as opposed to his mother
now, me, spoke Spanish.
All documents should
be in English,
if you wish to adopt in Britain.
I do, madam. I do.
Good. And it's miss.
Now, you live in Britain?
In France.
Why France?
Why not?
I live in France.
Are you adopting, too?
My husband, I'm a
widow, was French.
I have a house there
in the Bourgogne.
Oh, it's beautiful there.
My wife and I went grape
picking through it.
Well, before we got married.
Really? Which part?
Near Dijon, actually.
-Oh, lovely.
-Yeah, very nice.
Do you mind?
So, why do you wish
to adopt in Britain?
Well, wouldn't you,
if you had the choice?
You see what I mean.
How can I see what you mean?
This says acting
with a consent of...
Well, that must be "biological
mother and father".
With a consent of
the biological-
Look, um, may I translate?
-Alice.
-[Alice sighs]
No, this is the mother's
consent. Oh. [chuckles]
I'm sorry. [laughs]
He's no terrorist, but he's
been known to drop a few bombs.
Smith, since you seem
to find this so amusing,
you can deal with this.
It's not really our baby.
Let Social Services
deal with it.
[Chico blows a raspberry]
[warm music]
Nicole.
Look who's here!
[car door slams]
He's so beautiful.
Look! Look who's here,
it's your auntie!
[chatter in foreign language]
-[Jean-Paul chuckles]
-Oh, god.
Your Auntie Nicole.
What am I, a criminal
or something?
I'm fed up of being
treated like a miserable,
devious little criminal!
Ever since I came back,
I've been met with nothing
but pig-headed hostility and
suspicion, for god's sake!
Mrs. Cousteau, all this
must be confidential,
for your own sake.
Please keep your voice down.
Now, we have to be
certain he is your child.
Look, you've got the papers.
His birth certificate,
the mother's consent,
all the rubbish I had
to get to get him.
Now, what the hell
more do you want?
Did you meet her?
-Who?
-The mother.
No.
But her consent was obtained?
[Alice] Yes! Of course it was.
Her written consent?
Chico was brought
to me in Paris.
Luis, the lawyer, arranged
it. We paid a lawyer.
Who, his embassy says,
is entirely unscrupulous.
So what? They're
all unscrupulous.
The whole damn country's
bent as a nine-bob note.
We're not heartless. We
recognise your good intentions.
Realise you may
have been deceived.
But there is a
trade in children.
Almost a slave trade,
throughout the third world.
The statistics are appalling.
Many "lawyers" end up in jail.
They abduct, bribe, threaten.
You pay these lawyers
a great deal of money.
And how much of that do you
think went in paying people off?
Did you see any
money change hands?
No, only, my boyfriend
gave her, the mother,
some money, but it was a
tip, it was just a tip!
Alice, I think that
was the first baby.
Okay, here he is. Send him
back, this statistic of yours.
Maybe it'll help make you feel
a little less human
than you already are.
We've no wish to take him back
but what we must sort out,
and it's a hell of a tangle,
is what his status is now,
at this moment in time.
It's all there in the papers.
I'm waiting for the lawyer
to take the final application
through their courts.
Having slipped the baby out
through a legal loophole.
An escape hole, yes. Save
the agony of waiting.
What're you thinking?
Tell me.
What we're thinking is
what an unsavoury
business it all is.
Unsavoury? What's
unsavoury about it?
The subterfuge. All
this talk of escape.
Have you been there? What
else would you call it?
You could try "exploitation".
My god! "Exploitation"!
These kids are exploited from
the moment they draw breath!
If they get that far.
Don't you think I felt
it when I was over there?
I agonised over this,
believe me, but now nobody,
nobody will convince me that
Chico's not better off here
than begging on those
godforsaken streets.
Some would say you've
stolen him from his culture.
Culture? What is this culture?
You people always
talk about culture.
His heritage. His roots.
[Alice] His race, you mean.
It's something you'll
have to deal with.
You're white, he'll
be regarded as black.
I'm dealing with
it now, aren't I?
Would you object
if he was Irish?
Would you demand that
we teach him how to jig
and wean him onto Guinness?
Or if he was a
blonde little Dane?
Fill him chock-full of
herring? No, you're bigots!
You're talking about skin!
The colour of his skin.
Sustaining the very racism
you profess to deplore.
If we spent the money
helping them fight,
improving their conditions,
instead of lining the
pockets of dodgy lawyers-
Oh, yeah, if's a
big word, isn't it?
It's been hanging
around for years.
Meanwhile, couples like us go
childless and Chicos starve.
Let's talk
practicalities, shall we?
He's here, now,
waiting and helpless.
What the hell are you
gonna do about it?
Yes, he's here,
and like it or not,
we must do our best for him.
Okay, now if Chico is
going to be British,
we best get moving.
The first thing you'll
need is an English lawyer,
or to put a boot
up the Home Office.
It's a single
parent application?
-Yeah.
-And the Parisian dad?
Well, we're not married,
so I'm not going to ask him
to commit on these grounds.
Emotional blackmail, you mean?
Okay, it's a rocky road,
but not unnavigable.
Look, if you need any more
help, you'll let me know?
Yeah. Thank you.
But why?
We may disgree on the
whys and wherefores, but,
we're all rooting for Chico.
Now may I hold him and see
what all this fuss is about?
Yeah, that...
-[chico babbles]
-Yeah, here he is.
Okay.
[Chico grunts]
He's a handsome little
fellow, isn't he?
Yeah. Very.
[Man] Chico, no wonder your
mother had her talons out.
[suspenseful music]
[Alice] What?
Oh, no. In god's name, why?
And now?
Why now?
Why in god's name now?
But they've known all along.
Why are they suddenly
taking this tack?
What the hell am
I paying you for?
Moral ground? You don't know
the meaning of the word.
It's Luis, he...
Okay, okay. I'll have a word
with him, see what I can do.
They insist. All right.
[sighs] Hypocritical sods.
What?
Their government over
there have suddenly decided
they don't approve of
His Lordship and me.
[Nicole] Oh, no. As parents?
No! As livers in sin!
[both laugh]
What's so funny?
Tell me, what's so funny?
[women laugh]
I, Alice Patricia.
[Alice] I, Alice Patricia.
Take thee, Jean-Paul.
[Alice] Take thee, Jean-Paul.
[Chico babbles]
To be my lawful wedded husband.
To be my lawful wedded husband.
[Priest] To have, to hold,
for richer, for poorer.
To have, to hold, for
richer or for poorer.
In sickness or in health.
In sickness or in health.
[Priest] To love and to cherish.
[Alice] To love and to cherish.
[Priest] Till death us do part.
[Alice] Till death us do part.
[Priest] According
to God's holy law,
and this is my solemn vow.
[Alice] According
to God's holy law,
and this is my solemn vow.
There you go, love.
[lively background chatter]
Ladies and gentlemen, a toast!
-Toast!
-Alice and Jean-Paul.
Health and long happiness.
[Guests] Alice and Jean-Paul.
Speech, speech!
Jean-Paul, I demand a reply.
Well, um, ladies and gentlemen,
and Mademoiselle,
it has long been the
tradition of our species
for the child to be the
welcome fruit of marriage.
But in our case, Alice and me,
marriage has been the
fruit of the child.
[guests laugh]
For opening my eyes to
the joys of fatherhood,
and for giving me the
courage to say "yes"
to Alice's ultimatum.
[guests laugh]
I give you our son,
I give you Chico!
[Guests] Chico!
My name is Stuart Whittaker.
I'm what is called
a Guardian Ad Litem.
I've been appointed
by the local authority
to provide an
individual assessment.
Oh, here we go again.
How many more times do we
have to go through this?
An assessment of what?
Of the situation.
Of the situation? We're
still a situation?
Not Alice, not me, not
the baby, but a situation?
The proposed adoption.
And for who? Who, now
who is doing the digging?
Ostensibly, the authority,
but I don't see it that way.
And how do you see it?
It'd be interesting
to hear your view.
We're like goldfish here.
I work on your behalf
and the child's.
I observe, question,
assess, using my
professional judgement .
To what end?
To ensure the relationship
is viable, secure,
potentially lasting.
Whose relationship?
Ours? Alice and me?
That's a large part of it, yes.
That's none of
your damn business.
-Jean-Paul.
-No, no.
[speaks foreign language]
I'm up to here with
them. With all of them.
[sighs]
And the other part?
Chico. He's too young
to judge for himself.
They say you can't
pick your parents,
but in these cases, you can,
or have someone do it for you.
Did you pick your parents?
Did someone line them
up on a cattle market,
poke them about for you?
No.
And what if Chico was ours?
I mean, from us, out of us.
Would we have to suffer
this, this third-degree?
No, anyone can breed
like the rabbits.
Starve, neglect, abuse,
and do they get questioned?
Do they get grilled? Who takes
care of their kids interests?
Read your papers, man. Read
your wonderful British papers.
Adoption is unique,
presenting different problems,
not experienced in
normal parenting.
Oh, and what are we, children?
Can't we handle our own lives?
I mean, who do you think
you are with your language?
With your "parenting"?
What the hell do you
mean by "parenting"?
[Chico cries]
Oh, Jean-Paul, I think
he'll need changing.
Do you mind, love?
I'll make coffee.
Do you want to come in?
See a bit of parenting?
See me beat the
daylights out of him?
[Chico cries]
-[Chico cries]
-[muffled chatter]
Kettle's on.
[sighs] I'm sorry.
He's French, it's...
It's a short fuse.
He just loves Chico.
It happens a lot, French or not.
Intrusion is hard to
swallow, but necessary.
The law, I'm
afraid, requires it.
You realise we have been through
an awful lot of this already.
One tends to despair.
When it comes to
the final crunch,
who finally decides?
Who'll tell us, yes or no?
A judge in chambers,
on my recommendations.
So this is it? The final hurdle.
We're in the home straight?
The post's in sight.
I must ask you now to
look at yourselves.
Why, simply, you are together.
No! No, it is not your
right to know these things.
To ask them! Things that we
don't even know ourselves.
We married because it was
asked of us, for Chico.
Without him, would we
have done it? Who knows!
Without him, we
wouldn't be here.
You wouldn't be here
wanting to know!
Alice, that is not his business.
We are here, as we are. If
that's no good, then too bad.
We love each other,
we love Chico.
No more! You need
to know no more!
So, now you go.
Chico, we take him,
whether you like it or not.
And to hell with all of you. Go!
[door opens]
[door slams]
[Alice] Such a good boy.
Going to be a good
boy today for Mommy?
Are you?
Are you?
Come on.
-Wash our hands.
-[water splashes]
[toilet flushes]
[faucet squeaks]
[sombre orchestral music]
[Judge] Good luck.
[door closes]
[distant chatter]
[Alice] Where's Daddy gone?
[door creaks]
[door closes]
[clock ticks]
It is not required that I wear
a wig and robe in chambers,
but believe me, I
am a real judge.
Hm.
Hm.
[Chico coos]
Well, Mr. And Mrs. Quano,
I see nothing here.
No reason why this little
fellow shouldn't be yours.
[Alice sobs]
[Jean-Paul sighs]
[Alice sobs]
[peaceful music]
[Jean-Paul chuckles]
Nicole! He's done it!
He's done it.
We've got him.
Harry!
-You did it?
-Yeah.
-I told you.
-I know you did, I know.
-Hi, thanks, Maria.
-Congratulations.
Thanks, Dave.
Hi!
[Jean-Paul laughs]
Woo! [laughs]
[warm orchestral music]
[upbeat music]
[peaceful orchestral music]