Original subtitles

Thank you. Good morning.

Hi.

Hi.

I'm Bill McNabb.

And this is my wife. Joanne.

Hi. Is Tom here?

Uh, no. No, he's not. He had to go to Florida. His grandfather died. Oh, I'm

sorry to hear that.

Well, it wasn't unexpected.

But anyway, he had to go down there to take care of some things, and he asked

to help him out up here.

And, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. He told me to keep an eye out for you. I'm Andrew,

and you're the sales rep, right?

And a loyal customer.

Mm -hmm. Bill the silver -tongued Bill. Yeah, that's the phrase he used.

So what do you got there?

Oh, just the newest and the best.

Another cappuccino machine?

Not just another cappuccino machine.

The cappuccino machine.

Oh. It brews faster, steams hotter, cleans easier, and probably washes my

every Saturday, right?

Oh, look, I'll be very happy to take a look at it, but obviously I can't buy

anything without Tom here.

I'll tell you what.

I'll leave this one here, and you can take it for a test run.

No obligation.

Okay. Watch out, Andrew.

He gave me this kind of offer, and look at me now.

Well, give me a few months.

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Okay, yeah, Bill and Joanne, of course. You have a baby shower here tonight at

6, right? Mm -hmm. We are having a baby, and we are hosting a shower.

But the shower's not for this baby. It's for some trans. I mean, right shower,

different baby.

It's a long story.

Okay.

We've got some new kitchen help, too, huh?

Maybe. Excuse me.

How's that frosted decaf mocha latte coming along?

Well, the frosting machine is just warming up right now, or it's freezing

Monica, this is Bill, and this is Joanne. Hello.

I couldn't help but overhear, and anyone who's a friend of Cappuccino is a

friend of mine.

Congratulations on the baby.

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

Excuse me, this could be the Columbian deal. Oh, don't worry.

His Columbian deals are only about coffee.

So, Monica is a brand new customer, and she... I'm a Lamont teacher.

Oh, really? Oh, that's so funny. I just started looking for a class.

Well, as it so happens, we're starting a new class in the morning. The courses

are free and you don't have to wear shoes.

As a matter of fact, I've never really gotten used to shoes.

Well, come to think of it, neither have I.

Excuse me, that was Dr. Michaels. She wants to see us.

Test results are in. Oh, sorry.

Maybe I'll see you tomorrow.

Okay. Bye -bye.

Well, what are you guys doing here? Did you really think you could have a

cappuccino shop and leave this one out?

Okay, so an angel is going to be teaching Lamaze.

Wait, Tess, did that phone call have something to do with all this?

Life is a network of invisible threads, angel boy.

A grandfather dies, a baby is born.

The angel of death meets the angel of no shoes in a restaurant.

Where are we?

Columbine. Columbus. Wherever.

The circle of life just rolled through Juliana's coffee shop, baby.

The end of your assignment is the beginning of Monica's assignment, and

going to need help.

And so we've called in a specialist.

When you walk down the road,

Heavy burden, heavy load I

will rise and I will walk with you I'll walk

with you Till the sun don't even shine Walk with you

Every time I tell you I'll walk with you

Believe me, I'll walk with you So, that's it. That's what we have to face.

And Bill and Joanne are at the doctor's right now. And it could go either way.

Uh, just... I'll take care of it. Excuse me.

Tess? Who's the specialist that we called in?

Taylor. Oh, Taylor.

Well, he... Keep that thought.

Dear God, sometimes you arrive with a whisper and sometimes you fall

into our lives.

But whatever you bring to us is always beautiful.

All your dappled things.

All the things in this world that seem strange and different.

You're the father of us all.

Oh God, please, help this couple to accept parenthood.

Of just one of your creations.

The amnio showed us that your child has an extra chromosome.

Your child has Down syndrome.

Oh, my God.

Our baby's going to be retarded.

Well, it's impossible to tell how far he will develop. Let's not make any

assumptions.

Down syndrome... Just because I don't have a PhD on my wall doesn't mean I'm

dumb.

I did everything right. I did everything you told me to. Joanne, it isn't

anything that you did.

For a woman your age, the chances of having a baby with Down syndrome are

one in 60.

60 to one odds.

And we lost.

I don't know what to say. It's just not sinking in.

I know that this is difficult news to accept.

But, Joanne, you've taken good care of yourself, and you can have a healthy

boy. It's a boy?

A healthy, retarded baby boy. Don't decide what your child is going to be

on adults that you've seen that have Down syndrome.

Every child is different.

And every day we find new ways to help them.

And knowing this early helps us to help him reach his highest potential.

As what?

Look, uh... Knowing early also gives us other options,

doesn't it?

Yes. and we need to set up an appointment as soon as possible to

all with a counselor.

Listen, you two need to take some time to just let this all sink in.

I have another patient, but please use my office as long as you need, and I'll

be back in a little while.

What other options are you talking about?

We... We don't have to have this baby.

Whoa, Bill. You're going too fast for me. Please, just stop.

An hour ago, we were having a baby.

A few minutes ago, we were having a baby with Down syndrome.

Now you're asking me to think about not having a baby at all.

Honey...

I can't have this conversation right now.

Please, let's just go to the shower.

Oh, I can't deal with all those people.

We have to. We're giving it.

But we can't say anything to anybody about this.

Not until we've made some decisions.

Look. Bill, I know exactly what you're thinking right now. How am I ever going

to handle this, right?

It's easy.

You just sleep when the baby sleeps. That's all.

Tell me what your biggest challenge is going to be.

Piano lessons.

See, they never want to practice.

But there's this new research that says that children with musical training

learn geometry and algebra at a much faster rate.

Hey, Bill.

You're right.

Cappuccino? It's a big hit. Oh, thanks.

It's a great party.

Everyone's having a great time.

Yeah, everyone, except the host.

That's okay.

Everybody has accidents.

Hey, no harm, no foul, right, Carson?

Yeah, I guess he's just not used to... Best boys?

Yeah. Bill, this is Taylor.

Taylor just started working here yesterday, but we work together a lot on

special events.

I'm kind of like a specialist.

Terrific.

Whether it's a girl or boy, we're wishing you a lifetime of joy.

Something to start the college fund with. Love from Grandma to B. Wow.

Mom.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I don't want anyone pointing and staring at my kid like that.

It's no kind of life.

That boy is a stranger.

Our friends won't do that to our child.

No, honey, but he'll meet strangers in his life, too.

Look at him.

That's the best job he'll ever have.

I wanted more from my son.

The doctor said there are lots of new therapies.

Not to judge his potential against someone that old. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Future engineer.

No matter how many new therapies there are, he'll never be an engineer.

Well, you're not an engineer, and you're happy.

We're just going to have to tell our friends what Dr. Michael said before our

shower.

We can't have a shower, honey. How can we celebrate this?

Bill, I know you're hurting, but we're still going to have a baby, and he's

still going to need things.

Okay, so now you have the breathing thing down, it's time to move on to the

step, which is very important, and that is communication.

It's never too soon to start practicing, but Mommy, it's up to you to tell the

dads exactly what it is that you need.

So why don't we take a moment now to try, huh?

Honey, I need to tell people.

We'll feel so much better once we tell people I know we will. Oh, yeah. Looks

pity will make us feel a lot better.

Well, we're going to have to tell them sometime.

Not until we get used to it ourselves, okay?

When will that be?

I was just trying to picture all three of us here together.

You, me, and the baby.

Honey?

I want to set it up.

Honey, don't you think it's time we started to face reality?

If you have this child... If?

If I?

We are going to have a mentally retarded child.

Retarded.

And I don't know how bad it's going to be, but if it's a little or a lot, it's

going to be less than the perfect child we always thought we could have and can

still have someday.

Someday. Bill, it's a miracle that we got pregnant at all.

No, this isn't a miracle.

This is a mistake.

And we can correct it and move on from here.

I cannot believe that you are seriously considering this.

Of course I am.

Honey, believe it or not, I'm trying to be a responsible person here.

I always wanted my kid to have more than I had.

More education, more chances, a better future.

But this child is not going to have more, it's going to have less.

Bill, you are not responsible for this.

It isn't your fault.

You know something, honey? I don't know that.

And I don't know why this is happening to us.

But I do know what it means now.

It means no hope for our child being like other kids.

It means 24 -hour -a -day care for the rest of his life.

And who's going to provide that care, Joanne? Who's going to pay for that? You

and me.

We're going to pay for that.

Our lives will be dedicated to our retarded son.

And if you think that's some kind of family life, well, it sure the hell

for me.

Bill, this is not fair.

No, it isn't. No, it isn't fair, honey. It isn't fair to us, and it isn't fair

to this baby.

What are you saying?

I'm saying what you're thinking.

I'm saying we can't have this baby.

It would be miserable for this baby, and our life would be ruined.

You want me to get rid of it, don't you?

I don't want you to.

But it's the only way we're going to have the family we always wanted.

This is the family that we have.

Not yet.

I know it's an awful thing to say right now, but in a year or so, we're going to

be glad we did this.

And we'll try again.

I don't know if I could.

Why do you think we had the amnio?

So that we would know what was coming?

Yes, so that if there was something wrong, we could do something to fix it.

And there is.

We'll try again. We'll try again, honey.

Try again right away.

It's the right thing to do.

It's going to be okay.

It's going to be okay.

You believe that, don't you?

Do you want something else?

Yeah.

I have to drive to Canton tomorrow for a district sales meeting.

Why don't you come along?

You can have lunch with your sister.

No, I can't.

I've got Lamaze class.

No, I just haven't canceled it yet.

Joanne. Here you go.

Looks like you guys could use two more cups.

Thanks. You're welcome.

Olivia!

It's good to see you.

Hey.

Hey, honey, look.

Look at her.

I see them. She is so sweet.

She looks so normal.

Good job. Wow, that's neat.

We better go.

You leaving already?

We have some things to do.

Um... I was wondering, maybe you could do me a favor, Bill. I'm having some

trouble with the steamer nozzle on that constant cappuccino machine.

Maybe you could take a look at it?

Maybe we could just ask him a couple of questions or something.

How about I come back first thing in the morning, huh?

Sure. Great.

How do you do?

Well, you're very welcome.

Here's two more.

What do you say?

Thank you.

You're very welcome.

You want another one?

No, I am.

Come on.

Bye -bye.

Bye -bye.

Why couldn't you just say hi to that little girl?

Did you see how uncomfortable her mother was?

The whole place was staring.

They were staring at you.

You were the one that was acting uncomfortable.

The whole thing creeped me out, okay?

I'm sorry.

I thought we were supposed to be getting over this, and that was not helping.

Well, maybe it was helping.

I called the Down Support Group, and they're willing to help her. The woman I

talked to was wonderful.

Why? What for?

Bill, I need to get as much information as I can to make this decision.

I'm seeing little Olivia.

She has Down syndrome, and she's adorable.

Joanne, I thought we had decided.

So did I. But Olivia seems like such a happy little girl.

You don't think if that woman was given another choice, she wouldn't want a

happy, healthy child?

I just saw that her mother loved her.

I saw a woman.

I had a child that was an emotional drain on her 24 hours a day, seven days

week, for the rest of her life.

I can't take that forever.

Can you?

I can't keep going back and forth like this. It's too painful.

That's what I'm trying to say, honey.

Let's just stop talking about it.

Let's just get on with it.

What's the matter?

What makes you think anything's the matter?

You got your shoes on.

What's happening with Joanne and Bill?

They didn't turn up for class today.

Well, there you go.

Mrs. McNabb?

Hi. You can just come with me.

Okay.

Let's get you into a gown and into a room.

Right this way.

The doctor will be right in.

Thank you.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, that's all right.

I can't believe how wonderful this is. My baby. My baby right there in front of

me. It's a miracle.

I never thought I would really feel this way.

It's just the most incredible thing I've ever seen.

Bill?

I couldn't do it.

Bill, I just couldn't do it. Don't you understand?

I was going to do it, but I was going to do it for you.

Not for me.

Not for us.

Honey, we tried so hard and so long to have this baby.

What if this is our last chance?

I told you, we try again.

It's not our only chance.

But you don't know that.

Well, I know we don't want this one.

I don't know that.

Honey, we can have another baby.

Okay.

Even if we can have another child.

There will still always be an empty chair at our table.

I can't explain it, Bill, but I know this baby already.

And whoever he is, whatever he is, if he is not there every day for the rest of

our lives, I'm going to miss him. Him?

What are you talking about, him?

This is not a viable human being. There is no him.

God, you were the one that was preaching pro -choice all these years.

What happened?

I got pregnant.

Bill, Bill, listen to me.

When I was in college, I knew a lot of girls who chose to have abortions. They

were alone. They were scared. They had their whole lives ahead of them. Who

knows? I might have done the same thing then.

But I'm not in college anymore.

I'm not dreaming about my future. I'm in the middle of it. I'm 42 years old.

And I'm still pro -choice.

And Bill, I just made one.

I'm going to have that baby.

Okay, so now remember, coaches, it is your job to remind mom what she needs to

do to make things easier. And the first thing on the list is... Breathe!

That's right.

Okay, why don't you all take a break for about ten minutes or so, okay?

You know, whoever said having a baby is a blessed event?

I've never had anyone sit on their bladder before.

I'll see you in a bit.

How are you doing, Joanne?

I'm okay.

Do you think it would help if I talked to Bill myself?

He doesn't want to have anything to do with this baby.

But it's been a few months already. I hoped he would have changed his mind.

So was I.

Joanne. Without a coach, I have to drop the class.

I was going to ask my friend Karen, but she's busy with her own baby.

I hope you don't mind, but I've already asked a friend of mine, and she said

she'd be happy to help out.

Then I can stay?

Hi, babies.

Joanne. This is Tess.

How do you do? It's nice to meet you. And you.

And you.

You are both so sweet. I really just don't want to be a burden.

Oh, it's not a burden. It's an honor.

Babies are such a blessing.

And I sense that this one is very special.

Well, actually, he has Down syndrome. See? I told you he was very special.

Well, maybe you could tell my husband that.

We hardly even speak anymore.

Unless you can't excuse me as he's trying to pass us in the hallway.

This baby is really tearing us apart.

Is that what you think?

We married very late.

And it seems like it took me forever to find the right person. But five years

ago when I met Bill, he was everything I wanted.

You know, with salesmen, you can't believe a word they say.

But Bill always speaks straight from the heart.

It just never hurt before.

Well, you take it from me. Marriage can be a rocky road.

You give it your best and turn the rest of it over to God.

I like your friend, Monica.

I like her, too.

Okay.

We're doing very, very well here.

Carefully connect.

Bring hangers to each sheet.

Look after this little one.

These things are obviously very, very important.

Just that she's so obsessed with this baby, it's like we don't even exist

anymore.

Having a new baby, that changes everything.

That we is about to become three.

Yeah. Well, if I know anything, it's that you have to believe in something to

sell it.

And I just...

I just don't believe in this baby.

That's all he's ever going to be, isn't it?

Taylor?

Taylor's very happy with who he is. You know, if you give yourself a chance to

get to know him, you'd find out that he's very funny, he's very insightful,

he gives 100 % to whatever it is he does.

He's a busboy.

And when I have a kid, I want him to be more than that.

You know he's more than just a busboy.

Look, I never went to college.

I'm always going to be a salesman.

And I want my kid to be in a better place than that.

Bill, tell me something.

Why is it you hang out here?

Thank you, sir.

Because you got the best cappuccino in town.

Oh, is that it? That's the thing that keeps you coming back?

Yeah, that and the company.

Andrew, uh...

Joanne's baby is going to be... I know.

And this, of course, is the nursery.

Now, down that hall are the alternative birthing rooms.

They're really lovely. You know, they're decorated to look like you never left

home. Except, of course, they have hospital equipment.

We can have a party in there.

Oh, yeah.

Great. Come on, let's show them.

You coming?

Well, I'll catch up.

They're all beautiful babies, aren't they?

They all look... Perfect?

A perfect soul doesn't always come in a perfect body.

Those did.

Why not mine?

Your child is a gift from God.

Just like all these other little precious things.

Now, you may not like the package.

But what is going to make the difference in your son's life is not the

packaging.

It's the parenting.

It's a good thing he'll have Joanne, then.

Of course, remember that C -sections are mostly used as a last resort,

but I have learned in my business that it's always good to be prepared anyway.

You all have a good night, son. Thank you.

Bye.

Is Bill coming to

pick you up?

Oh, yes.

Don't worry about anything.

You're doing great.

A compliment from Tess?

That's something.

Oh, Monica, I am so afraid.

This baby is costing me my marriage, and I don't know if I can do it alone.

Joanne, you've had some very difficult decisions to make.

You made the choice that was best for you.

No one can blame you for that.

Bill can.

Where is Bill?

Thought he was picking you up.

He's late.

Again.

Lately, he seems to spend more time at the coffee shop than he does at home.

Would you like a ride?

No.

I think the walk will do me good.

Not really, Bill, except for that one time when it clogged. It's been working

fine. I know, but these things can be tricky.

They need special attention.

You have to get the balance just right.

Kind of like a marriage.

Kind of a cheap shot.

I'm sorry, Bill, but it's true.

You spend more time here than anywhere else.

In my line of work, I come to recognize when people don't want to go home.

All right, Andrew, you want a confession?

All right, here it is.

All I ever wanted was a normal family.

I want a kid that's tall.

And healthy.

Might even be the captain of a high school football team.

Maybe even get a scholarship.

A kid that wants to be an architect.

Or a lawyer.

That's the kid I want.

Hey!

All right, nobody move!

Take it easy. All right, just shut up, okay?

Just do what I say, and nobody's going to get hurt. You can have the money.

Take it easy. I want everybody down at that end of the counter.

Come on, let's go. Everybody move.

You too.

All right.

I want you to empty the register.

You got it. Take it either.

No, not you. I don't want any tricky stuff.

Make the retard do it.

Come on, come on, come on. Let's go.

Come on, hurry up.

Hurry up, you moron.

I am.

Come on.

Come on.

Let's go. Give me everything.

Come on, come on, come on.

Is that it?

A lousy 50 bucks?

What is this? Come on!

Whoa! No!

Everything's going to be okay.

How did I get here? Yes, a woman has been shot.

Get away from me. Put your feet up. It's the best thing. Just leave us alone.

Bill, I can't feel the pain.

Just hold on.

Everything's going to be okay. The ambulance is coming.

If something happens to me, I want you to keep faith.

Don't think about it.

Don't think about that.

I think she's going to be fine.

Just hold on, honey. Just hold on. Be careful.

Good shot. Watch your head.

She's pregnant.

Come on.

Seven. Don't worry about the baby. Just save my wife.

Hold her head. Hold her head.

One,

two, three.

Ready? Go.

You've got the bag. I've got the bag.

Did you know about any of this?

What are people thinking?

Let's go.

Room 2.

Room 3. Room 3.

Right here. Have you got a pulse?

No. You need to stay out here, sir. This is my wife. You need an OB down here.

Stay out here.

Joanne! Sir?

Sir, can you give me the full name of your wife?

Joanne Adair McNabb.

Are you the husband?

Yes. Your wife is critical, but if we move fast, we can save the baby.

Oh, my God. No, no, no. You did the best thing for her. You got her down and got

her feet up. Not a lot of people can think fast in an emergency.

How far along is she?

How many months?

Dr. Dower, we need you.

We need your permission for an emergency C -section.

What about Joanne? Dr. Dower.

Look, I can't promise you anything, but we will do our best.

She's a good hand.

Get out of my way.

Oh, God, help me.

That's why I'm here.

Neonatal's on the way with the eye fillet. Your blood pressure's dropping.

You don't want a fillet coming to you?

No.

No, I don't. I'm really sorry, but I don't. I need more suction.

Doctor? Good. Okay, I'm giving epinephrine. One milligram.

More exposure on the left side, please.

You're worried about his disability.

But there's something worse than Down syndrome.

That's fear.

Don't talk to me about fear.

Why not?

It's what angels do.

What's going on here?

Are you trying to tell me that you're an angel?

God sent me a retarded angel.

No. God sent me.

You're afraid you won't be a good father.

Afraid your life will be ruined.

Aren't you?

Yes.

I am.

I'm scared.

If I sign this, I sign my life away.

You're afraid you won't have enough love.

How can I?

How can I have enough love for this little baby?

God created you in love.

He created your baby in love.

He will give you the love you need.

Then your son will give it back to you for the rest of your life.

My son.

I don't have a son yet.

And I may lose my wife.

What we do we love and love a lot.

I need

more

exposure here. Open it up.

Very good.

A little more.

Good. A little more retraction.

They'll have signed the consent form.

It may be too late.

You're not alone, Joanne.

This wasn't the way that you planned things.

And it wasn't the way that God planned things either.

But he promises you.

He will be with you every step of the way.

And so will I.

And so will Bill.

Bill, let's make this decision right now.

Bill loves you very much.

And he will love this child.

Yes. He will love this wee baby even more than he can possibly imagine right

now. He will find that love.

And it will fill him up so much that his heart will runneth over.

Now you rest, my friend.

You let the doctors do their work.

And you let God do his.

I don't know if you're up there, God.

I hope not, because you're not going to like what I'm going to say.

But after that doctor came, you see,

if anybody's up there listening, he said that Joanne's in

bad shape.

And that she may have some damage that can't be fixed.

In her brain.

And.

I thought.

I can't do it. I just can't do it.

I can't take care of this little kid. And Joanne too.

Oh Lord.

I don't know what to do.

I was so blessed.

I'm not a smart guy.

Joanne's smart.

She went to college.

All I do is know how to sell.

I was so blessed when she fell in love with me.

She's the best thing that ever happened to me. Please don't take her away.

Please, oh God, I don't know what to do.

Yes, you do.

And you're doing it.

It's called praying.

I didn't think anybody was around to hear that. You'd be surprised who's

and listening.

God isn't taking anything away from you.

The world takes things away from us.

And God restores them. And a thousand times better, too.

Thanks.

But it just doesn't look like that today.

You love that Joanne with all you've got in you, right?

Yes. Well, that baby is a part of her.

And it's a part of you.

It's a part of your love for each other.

That's why your baby is as perfect as any of these.

He's born of love.

I gotta get back.

Let me ask you something.

If Joanne did have brain damage, would you leave her?

No, of course not.

She's family.

And so is that little boy of yours.

Maybe you should start praying for Joanne and the baby.

Not the baby you want, but the baby you're about to have.

Nothing is impossible.

You can do all things through him that strengthens you.

That's good.

A little bit more. A little bit more. Come on.

How's her BP?

100 over 70 and holding. Good.

Come on, little guy. It's time to see the world.

Oh, take him. He won't break.

Look at how beautiful you are.

How's Joanne? It's still touching, though.

Joanne is a fighter.

I think it's impossible, right?

Not for the creator. Nothing at all.

So beautiful.

You have the most wonderful mother.

She's smart and beautiful.

And I know she wants to be with you.

And she loves you very, very much.

And so do I.

Yes, yes.

Me and Taylor.

Yep, I hope you don't mind.

I named him.

Named our son.

After our friend Taylor.

So he'll grow proud.

And I know he will.

And you're gonna get better, honey.

One day at a time.

We're going to do this.

We are doing this.

Aren't we, Taylor?

Huh?

Yeah.

Daddy's here.

I'm here.

Yeah.

I wish I had gotten to hold the lead, baby. Just for a moment.

So do I.

With your track record, Angel Baby.

Taylor, I think it's better that you didn't.

I just thought if he dishes, it could happen to anyone.