Original subtitles

♪

[no audio]

[no audio]

[bang echoes]

They say a baby can hear inside the womb.

So, all through Laura's pregnancy,

I put my mouth close to her belly

and spoke to Adam inside her.

ATTORNEY: Were you in the delivery room

when your son was born?

FATHER: I was.

He was, uh, crying and, uh,

crying when they handed him to me.

And when I spoke to him, he stopped.

Opened his eyes.

Looked up at me.

It was the sound of my voice.

He recognized it.

It was like we knew each other already.

And when did events begin to change

for you and your family?

Adam was eight.

Just before his birthday.

The day started at Adam's school.

We were a little late.

We're going to be late.

You want to fly?

Ready for takeoff?

All right, here we go.

[groaning]

You got big.

All right, here we go!

[yelling playfully]

Whoo!

Whoa!

WOMAN: Hi, hello, everybody.

Okay, hello, pay attention, everybody.

Hi.

Are you ready? It's magic time.

It's almost about time to start.

Oh, but I must thank

the parents for their part in the play.

Voicing for their children

while they're performing this play.

And I want to thank all of the moms

for making the costumes.

[applause]

Don't our kids look great?

And a very special thank you to my dear husband

for building the set for us.

Excuse me,

um, is it true that, that

when the play is over we get to go home early?

[laughter]

No, no, it is,

but it's not time for all that now.

Go. You're about to go on.

Okay, places, everybody.

[piano plays fanfare]

[imitating wind blowing]

Auntie Em!

Auntie Em, it's a twister!

It's heading right towards us.

Dorothy, get in the storm cellar now,

before it's too late!

Auntie Em!

Auntie Em, where are you?

Auntie Em, where are you?

Where are you?

Where am I?

Your house fell on the wicked witch.

And killed her.

Now, you're wearing her magic shoes.

I am going to the Great Oz,

to ask him if he can send me back home

-to Kansas. -And ask him

if he can give me a heart.

And ask him to give me some brains.

[roaring]

[laughter]

Do you think the Great Oz

could give me some courage?

[laughter]

Why don't you come with us and find out?

You'd be so very welcome.

Are you ready?

ALL: Let's go!

[piano playing jaunty melody]

[applause]

He's, he's turning eight.

Yeah, we're going to have the, uh,

the party right here in our backyard.

So, I'm going to need you in your full pirate regalia,

you know, games, magic, balloon animals, you name it.

How much is that going to cost me?

You're kidding.

How about for a, a couple of parrot hand puppet things?

Something... Yeah.

Okay, all right, fine. And also,

by the way, this is not

your typical birthday party; Adam...

Hold on a minute. Adam!

[groaning]

[tires screeching]

[sniffling]

Hey.

Hey...

You're going to be okay.

The doctor is going to make it all better.

So how did this happen?

Oh, he was, he was chasing a balloon.

I yelled out, like an idiot,

but...

Was Adam born deaf?

No, he was born hearing.

And when did it start to go?

Uh, a couple years ago.

And he doesn't use a hearing aid?

No. They stopped

helping.

Well, that must have required quite an adjustment.

I've accepted it.

Uh, I meant him.

His mother is, uh, deaf.

She teaches deaf children.

Mommy taught you to sign, right?

Yeah, Mommy gave me magic hands! Yes.

What about his speech?

Uh, he doesn't speak anymore.

I mean, he used to say stuff to me,

but then when he went totally deaf, he just...

What's that?

It means he turned off his voice.

Okay, that should do it.

All done.

You know, he may turn it back on,

if he could hear himself speak.

Well, we can't reverse what nature's done.

Well, sometimes we can.

Have you ever heard of a cochlear implant?

You do realize your son could hear sound again.

-Excuse me. -Well, not-not like a hearing child, but thanks.

Some sound in hearing is better than none, right?

I mean, if his heart were defective,

you wouldn't question implanting

an artificial valve.

Well, the deaf don't see themselves as defective.

That's the point.

I've been married to a deaf woman for nine years.

Nothing about her is defective.

Trust me.

Oh!

Oh, you won!

Good job!

All right, here is the Hudson Ear Institute.

Dr. Flynt.

-He could help you. -Hey.

Come on, let's go. Uh, thanks anyway.

Well, it's just information.

Information can't hurt you.

We don't want someone sticking wires in his head.

It's not an option.

No way.

Adam...

Okay.

Uh, don't...

...worry.

See... you...

at... home.

Yeah. Mommy.

[clicks tongue]

Hey, hey.

[laughing]

Oh.

Oh!

Don't. I'm driving.

[children shouting playfully]

Oh.

Sorry.

I got here as fast as I could.

He's taking a nap.

-What did the doctor say? -No. No.

He said he's fine.

He's a normal kid.

[laughing]

WOMAN: Here you are, Mr. Donner.

That's quite a development.

-Ah, thank you very much. -Mm-hmm.

[phone ringing]

WOMAN: Krupp, Harrison & Dean.

He's not in the office today.

[indistinct conversations]

[sighs]

Mr. Donner, thank you for pushing the meeting.

I'm sorry. Something at home.

Nothing too serious, I hope.

No, no. Nothing serious at all.

Uh, while we were waiting,

your lovely assistant was explaining

this video phone to me.

Oh, yeah, that-that's pretty cool, isn't it?

Mm-hmm.

My wife and I can see each other

and sign over the phone.

Uh, she's deaf, and my son is deaf, too, so, uh...

-Mm. -Have a seat. Have a seat.

Thanks.

So, what did you think of our proposal?

Impressive, but I should warn you,

our company is set in its ways.

Well, I don't want to change anything, but...

You know, to me,

public relations is about perception.

My job is to recognize

what it is about you that makes you unique.

You know, special.

[children laughing]

MAN: What-What this time, McBain?

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Can I borrow Mr. Williams for a moment?

Oh, sure, absolutely.

I want you to meet my husband, Ray.

Ray, this is Laura's father Max.

I read your book on deaf culture.

It's very good.

I learned a lot.

Ah, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Jennifer chuckles]

Laura, you must be very proud of your father.

Oh... ho, ho.

He means the world to me.

I'm proud of you, too.

Is your mom here?

[children laughing]

-Oh. -[laughs]

-Told you, honey. -He's having a ball.

DAN: Ah, there goes... Okay.

Yeah. Oh, oh. Oh, I... Let me get the...

My parents are here.

Let me get them over.

-Mom! Dad! Oh, you made it. -Hi.

-Oh, good to see you. -How you doin', big fella?

Yes, you, too, honey.

-Thank you for coming. -How are you?

-Oh, how was your flight? -The movie was good.

FATHER: The pretzels were bad.

Yeah. Ah, well.

Hey, here's the birthday boy!

Oh, my darling.

-How are you, sweetheart? -How you doing, Adam?

-How are you, big boy? -Happy birthday.

Hey, you look great.

Where should I put that...?

-Oh, another present. -Ah, you know.

Oh, my goodness! Mount Vesuvius erupts.

-Yes... -Hey, come on over.

You remember the, uh, Scotts, live across the street?

Yes, of course. How are you? Hi.

-My parents. -Nice to see you.

Good to see you again. I'm Priscilla. Priscilla.

-I'll get you guys some drinks. -Priscilla? You?

EVERYONE: ♪ Happy birthday to you

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday, dear Adam

♪ Happy birthday to you.

[no audio]

DAN: Oh. Wait.

You have to make a wish.

"Tell me. Tell me." Well, for what?

What do I wish for?

[laughter]

DAN [echoing]: ...wish for?

[laughter echoing]

Great party.

Don't you think?

Adam had such a good time.

The cut on his knee didn't bother him a bit.

Yeah. Chasing that balloon-- that's all he was doing.

Oh, he's all right.

Yeah, well...

what if, next time, he's chasing the balloon,

and it leads him out into traffic?

Deaf kids don't walk into traffic.

You never see on the news,

"Deaf child wanders aimlessly into traffic."

It doesn't happen.

What if we were given the chance

to change the direction of his life?

The ER doctor suggested

that-that we can actually choose.

Choose what?

Whether Adam should have a...

cochlear implant.

[sighs]

The doctor said that Adam is a good candidate.

The younger he is,

the more effective the implant will be.

He may still remember what things sound like.

[sighs]

I can't believe you'd even...

No, I-I...

I told the doctor no.

Good.

Then I checked the Internet.

Implants now have 16-channel sound.

I mean, they're powered by a computer microchip.

Wait. Are you actually considering this?

There's this doctor-- Dr. Flynt.

Let's at least go see him.

I mean, how can we, um,

make an intelligent decision

if we don't have all the facts?

But we know all this already.

You and I talked.

We always agreed.

Why are you suddenly...?

Because what if,

what if our boy could hear again?

Adam's happy the way he is.

I know, but...

And you and I have always told Adam to love who he is.

Now you want to tell him

something's wrong with him? Why?

To maybe give him back one of the basic human senses

that nature wants all of us to have.

But that is what nature wants.

Nature did it!

Being deaf

is as natural to Adam and me as being hearing is to you.

[sighs]

Let's go meet this doctor, okay?

Next week.

Friday.

Friday?

Yeah. At 3:45.

You made an appointment without even asking me?

These doctors are so busy.

I mean, you... you have to grab them

when you...

What?

You're scaring me.

Don't be scared.

You've already made up your mind.

No.

I'm keeping my mind open.

Can you?

So, Ms. Kramer, why don't you

tell the court a little about Pinewood?

Well, Pinewood has been there for 70 years.

We are the only deaf elementary school in the county.

Please tell the court, Ms. Kramer,

do any of the children at your school

have a cochlear implant?

No.

The policy at our school is that all our kids sign.

And when you see a child

with an implant, how do you

personally feel?

My heart breaks.

And why is that?

Well, 100 years ago, we would take deaf people

and slice out the bottom of their tongues

to loosen their tongues.

We thought that

it would make them speak like us.

Today,

they drill holes in their skulls.

Objection. Unwarranted comparison,

Your Honor, and irrelevant to these proceedings.

I agree.

Sustained.

Could you maybe clarify your point

for the court, Ms. Kramer?

What I'm trying to say is,

I am around deaf kids and their families

every day at our school.

We don't look at deafness

as a handicap that needs to be corrected.

Why do we feel this need to make them speak like us?

They speak with their hands.

You're a deaf mother, Mrs. Parks?

Yes, I have a daughter.

She's seven.

Wait a minute. You're deaf.

I notice you're not utilizing the services

of the sign language interpreter.

I don't need one.

I can hear everything you're saying.

But how is that possible?

I have a cochlear implant.

Wow. And, uh, is your daughter deaf?

Yes. We got her implant two years ago.

As a deaf parent, was that a hard decision

for you to make?

MRS. PARKS: We're still a deaf family.

We have a lot of deaf friends.

We did get some pressure not to do it,

but then I got mine,

and there was no question in my mind.

And you feel that giving your child

an implant has improved the quality of her life?

MRS. PARKS: She hears music, cars...

She can talk to anybody anytime.

She won't ever feel left out of anything anymore.

It's a miracle.

Let me remind both parties.

The purpose of these proceedings is not

for the court to decide whether the minor

should receive an implant.

This is a custody hearing.

DAN [on recording]: Well, Adam, tell Daddy

how old you are today.

ADAM: Three!

DAN: Three! That's right!

Good boy. You're a big boy now.

ADAM: Yeah.

DAN: Can you sing the alphabet song?

ADAM: Yeah, yeah.

♪ A-B-C-D-E-F-G

♪ H-I

♪ J-K-L-M-N-O-P

♪ Q-R-S

[muffled]: ♪ T-U-V

Hey.

-♪ W-X -Hey.

-♪ Y and Z -Let's clean up

the room, you know, before Grandma sees it.

Okay? All right, uh...

-♪ Now I know my ABCs -Here.

Ooh!

♪ Won't you come and sing with me? ♪

[Dan and Adam talking indistinctly on tape]

You ready?

Uh, yeah, ready, yeah.

[indistinct talking on tape continues]

Now, mind Grandma Sally, and go to bed

when she tells you to.

Daddy and I will be home after the movie, okay?

ADAM: ♪ Wonder what you are

-♪ Up above the world so high -[sighs]

♪ Like a diamond

[full volume]: ♪ In the sky

♪ Twinkle, twinkle, little star ♪

♪ How I wonder what you are.

[switch clicks]

I'm glad you came in.

It gives me a chance to say how sorry I am

I had to lie to you.

BURT LANCASTER: So, you see, Edna,

I could never satisfy your need.

And I know that you could never satisfy mine.

I would never try to again.

-[laughter] -Hello. Four of you?

I've heard that joke so many times.

-Okay. Right through there. -I've never heard it.

I've never heard you tell that.

I love the way they worked out the captions

so that she can enjoy the movie more.

Oh, yeah, yeah. Oh, it's great now. Yeah.

Was it always that way, or?

Uh, no actually, no.

No, it wasn't.

Uh, in fact, uh... Laura, remember

when we were first dating,

and we would go to the movies?

This is before captions, right?

So we would go to the movies,

and to impress her,

to show her how cool I was, right?

I would scrunch down in my seat, real low, like...

-Here you go. -Thank you.

...and, uh, um, scrunch down in my seat real low, like this,

and I would be frantically trying to secretly sign

the whole movie,

you know, without being seen.

It was... Right?

And remember that, the one time

that the usher came over

because he thought you were having a seizure.

[laughing]

Yes, it's true.

Smooth, Dan, you're a real Don Juan.

Oh, yeah, yeah...

How could you even hold up a fork at dinner

after signing an entire movie?

Um...?

You should have seen him

when we saw War and Peace.

[laughter]

You didn't know how to sign

before you met Laura, did you?

Um...

No, no.

But as soon as I laid eyes on her,

I knew I wanted to speak her language.

What? I speak your language.

I just don't understand what you're saying.

-Thanks a lot. -Ow!

FEMALE VOCALIST [over radio]: ♪ It's not the pale moon

♪ That excites me

♪ That thrills

♪ And delights me...

Come here, come here.

♪ Oh, no

♪ It's just the nearness

♪ Of you

♪ It isn't your sweet conversation ♪

♪ That brings...

It's our song.

♪ Oh, no

♪ It's just the nearness

♪ Of you

♪ When you're in my arms

♪ And I feel you...

[Dan playing gentle melody on guitar]

[light clicking]

[guitar melody continuing]

[no audio]

[guitar melody continuing]

[guitar stops playing]

[no audio]

[guitar playing]

[no audio]

[audio resumes]

[plays blues riff]

[no audio]

[laughs]

Hey, you know what?

There was an outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds.

He threw out three runners at home plate,

all the way from the outfield,

in the same game!

Wow!

And he stole so many bases,

he is still on the top-20 list of all time.

Know what else was special about him?

He was deaf.

Only trouble was, he couldn't hear

the umpire call out balls or strikes.

Watch.

Know what they did?

Hand signals, sign language.

And they still do it to this day.

What did he say?

Nothing.

He just stared at me,

like I was a raving lunatic.

[laughs]

You should've seen me trying to order this latte.

I said, "Yes, whipped cream."

Whip... cream!

[laughs]

Oh...

Mom, have you ever had to stand up against Daddy?

Tell him he's wrong?

There were a few times in our marriage

when I wish I had.

When?

Oh... those are nice.

That watch would look good on your father, don't you think?

Easy. Slow it down.

Am I throwing too hard?

Sorry.

You know what Grandpa said about hand signals is true.

And when a player

strikes out, the umpire also yells, real loud,

"You're out!"

Good, but just, just... try it...

Use your voice, just big and loud.

Just... You're out!

[no audio]

It's okay. Um...

Just use your voice.

You're out!

[no audio]

[chuckles]

There was a deaf pitcher for the New York Giants,

pitched eight years,

including the World Series...

And reminder:

staff meeting tomorrow is moved to 11:00.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

Anything you want to talk about?

-Well... -[door opens]

Hold on a sec, 'kay?

Hey, stop that!

We're having dinner soon.

Go wash up.

Dinner!

My pot roast is ready.

Oh, bye.

This competition thing with your father--

it's gone too far.

[stamps foot]

Competition thing?

Your father, look...

I respect what he's done with his life,

but from the beginning, he has never accepted me.

No, he's accepted you.

No, no, no. He...

he tolerates me, barely.

His daughter marrying a hearing man...

[sighs]

Deaf pride, that's one thing,

deaf prejudice, that's another.

Not true.

You're wrong.

Well, don't underestimate prejudice.

[sighs]

FEMALE ATTORNEY: So ASL is just a kind of English, right?

Uh, American Sign Language is not English.

No? Isn't sign language just making English with your hands?

No, it is its own

official language unto itself.

The average hearing person has no idea

how complex sign language can be.

Dr. Cannon, as a professor with a PhD in linguistics,

would you agree that language creates culture?

CANNON: It's a standard we use to define any culture

around the world.

ATTORNEY: So, since ASL is an official language,

does that mean that deafness is a culture?

Their language is their culture;

their sense of self as a people,

their history, traditions, dignity, power--

all of it.

It's all carried forward and lives in their hands.

Dr. Harvey, what does the future hold for Adam

as a deaf child?

Well, the, uh,

according to the data available,

the average deaf person in this country

leaves high school reading at the level of a fourth-grader.

Objection. Is counsel suggesting

that deaf people can't read?

That's absurd.

The average hearing American graduates high school

reading at the level of a fifth-grader.

Your Honor, the data reflects the national average.

Miss Tate will have her opportunity to challenge

these findings on cross-examination.

Take a seat, Mrs. Tate.

Wait your turn.

What if Adam wants to go to college, get a degree?

He would need a sign language interpreter with him

all the time in the classroom.

And if Adam somehow manages to get a deaf education,

what kind of livelihood can he expect?

The average deaf adult earns far below

the national standard.

A large percentage of deaf adults

receive government subsidies,

um, disability insurance.

Wait a minute.

How is it that a deaf person can accept a disability

insurance check with one hand,

and yet claim they're not disabled

but a culture with the other?

Objection! Misleading and grossly prejudicial.

Sustained.

I withdraw it.

Dr. Harvey, as a professor of sociology,

would you agree that when Adam Miller's hearing disappeared

at age four,

so did many of his life's options

and opportunities?

In my opinion, that would be a true statement-- yes.

GRISHAM: Thank you.

Hey, what's going on?

I thought maybe I could work from home,

you know, in the afternoons, for a while.

I... I told the office that I'd be working, uh,

you know, half days.

Why?

You know, to have time with you

and with Adam.

Adam developed deafness, not cancer.

[children laughing]

LAURA: He's making appointments,

making decisions, without even asking me.

That's so not like us.

Ray will do the same thing sometime.

Men, they don't think it matters.

Dan and I always talk.

About everything.

Together.

Especially about Adam.

That's why I feel so...

I don't know.

Do you and Ray talk about everything?

Sometimes I think

that Ray would talk to his best friend

about things that he doesn't say to me.

Dan and I have always said...

-"I married my best friend." -Mmm.

So, if that's the case,

what are you going to do?

LAURA: I don't know.

Hi.

Do you remember sound?

Some things.

What do you remember?

Do you miss hearing things?

When you think of sound,

do you wish you could hear things again?

I'm full. Done.

I wonder if, maybe, it would've been easier

if he'd never heard sound before.

If he'd

been born deaf like me.

Easier?

For whom?

I remember the first time

I understood there was sound in the world.

I was a little girl.

My grandmother was hearing.

She was outside sweeping the porch.

[teakettle whistling]

[whistling fades]

[whistling stops abruptly; no audio]

[whistling resumes]

[no audio]

And I remember that's when I realized

that's sound.

[under breath]: Wow.

[no audio]

I'm supposed to know what's right for him.

You do know.

Do I?

FLYNT: Uh, your parents

are, um, hearing impaired?

Oh, they're deaf.

Well, you see, um, um,

usually, I, um...

Okay, my signing isn't what it used to be.

Oh, I'll interpret.

Thank you.

You see, most of the parents I see

about implants are hearing.

Uh, 90% of deaf kids have hearing parents.

Well, when I was born deaf,

my parents celebrated.

Especially my father. See, he's

he's big on Deaf Pride

and deaf culture.

He even wrote a book about it.

If he knew I was here...

I... I know, I know.

FLYNT: More and more

deaf parents are getting implants

for their children, if that, uh, helps you.

That makes me sad.

Well, we're just, we're just here

to get information, that's all.

Tell me about the surgery.

The surgeon drills a hole through the skull,

into the chamber of the inner ear.

And then he inserts the electrodes through the hole,

into the cochlea.

Takes three to five weeks for the incision to heal.

And then there's an external transmitter

that, uh, attaches by magnet.

Then he can hear?

Not yet.

Well, how long before he gets his hearing back?

You do understand that implants don't cure deafness.

When he removes the device,

he's still a deaf child.

So... what?

Is he a... a deaf child who hears?

Or is he a hearing child who's deaf?

No...

he's, he's our son.

No, he's too young.

He just turned eight.

-I know. -Actually,

it's, it's, um, easier

for a child whose brain is still developing

to learn to process different sounds.

We find that the younger the child is

the better the results we see.

We've implanted kids as young as 12 months.

I'm trying to keep an open mind,

I really am.

That's why it's very important for both of you

to understand what implants can and cannot do.

Come with me.

I want you to see something.

WOMAN: David...

I'm going to put this on your ear.

And then I'll start this,

and if you hear anything,

you tell me, okay?

I scheduled your appointment so you could see this.

See? It's the same.

I'm going to activate the implant.

Now, the hearing aid only amplifies the sound.

Makes it louder.

With an implant, 16 electrodes are surgically inserted into

-the inner ear. -It will just take a second, okay?

Now, that's the processor,

attached to his ear there.

That sends the sound impulses

to the implant,

which turns them into electronic signals.

And they are sent directly to the brain.

The whole thing runs on a rechargeable battery.

[over speaker]: Are you ready?

Okay, go ahead.

David?

David?

Is he hearing me?

It's okay; keep trying.

David?

David.

Try again.

David.

MOTHER:

David?

Oh, darling.

Hey.

Can you hear me? Huh?

Can... can he hear me?

He can't tell it's your voice,

but he is responding to the sound.

[under breath]: Wow.

FLYNT: Now, it'll, uh, take some time

to retrain Adam's brain to receive sound again.

And then he'll need speech therapy.

Well, uh, maybe at Adam's school, we can...

Oh, Adam would have to change schools.

...schools.

Why?

Well, with an implant, he'll be going to a mainstream school

to learn how to listen and speak.

What about his signing?

Oh, that would become his second language.

And, with time,

Adam will be able to sign at home,

and speak and hear in the outside world.

Switch back and forth.

But he won't feel part of the hearing world

because he'll never hear what the other kids hear.

And he won't feel part

of the deaf world, because he'll never

be totally deaf.

Well, I think you'll find

that Adam will have the best of both worlds.

And what do you say?

What do you say when Adam says,

"Daddy, why?

"Why are you doing this to me?

-Could you... -"Is there something wrong with being deaf?

No... -"I don't get it.

Tell me, tell me."

-What are you going to tell him? -No... what,

what do, what do I say, when he looks up at me and he says,

"You had the chance to get my hearing back

and you did nothing"?

What do I say then?

Oh, I, I know.

"Sorry, it wasn't politically correct."

Wait, you...

Folks, if you decide to go through with this,

what we do is we assign a psychologist to your case.

It's routine.

Well, Adam doesn't need a shrink.

Well, no, this is to evaluate the two of you as a couple.

This is a life choice,

that you're making for your family.

For it to work you both have to be in complete agreement.

And if we're not?

Then don't do it.

[steam cleaner hissing]

[no audio]

[muffled whistling]

[no audio]

BOY: Star Command to Night Warrior.

Come in, Night Warrior

Do you read me?

Uh-oh! An alien creature!

Blast him! Blast him!

Blam! Blam! Blam!

Blam.

Hey, cut it out.

He's an alien.

He can play with us.

Talks like this...

-Look at me, I'm "death," I'm "death." -Stop it!

Look at me, I'm "death," I'm "death."

Stop it!

Get off me!

Mark, stop that!

Get off of him!

What...? Come here!

What is going on?

Come here.

What has gotten into you?

-He was making fun of Adam. -Oh...

Say you're sorry, Todd.

No.

Say you're sorry!

I think that's a good idea. Say you're sorry.

Todd?!

How do you say...

[over-enunciates]: "I'm... sorry"?

Todd!

I'm sorry.

I'm, uh... I'm trying to help the guys at the office

with the King account.

They can't seem to do anything without me.

So, you went through my briefcase?

Adam was drawing a picture.

He likes those colored pens of yours.

Yes. We're set with the psychologist

to be evaluated as a couple.

So, we are going ahead.

For now.

And when did "we" decide that?

I was going to show you.

Oh, I see.

Evaluation as...

a couple.

Mrs. Miller, would you say you're a close family?

Yes.

You enjoy being a grandmother?

Oh, I love it.

I adore Adam.

He's my pride and joy.

That's why I just don't understand...

You don't understand what?

What mother, if given the chance,

would deny her child the ability to hear, to speak?

-Uh, Mrs. Miller, could you wait until...? -If it were my child,

I would do anything to help him.

TATE: But isn't it true that if Adam were in this courtroom

today, you, as his grandmother,

would be unable to communicate with him?

To tell him that you love him?

He knows that I love him.

I tell him all the time.

But how?

You don't speak the same language.

I hold him, I hug him.

He sees it in my face.

It's beyond words.

It doesn't matter what language we speak.

TATE: No further questions.

Let me ask you this--

if your own daughter Laura were hearing,

would you love her any less?

Of course not.

A mother loves her child, no matter what.

So the fact that she is deaf is actually irrelevant, isn't it?

And gives her no advantage, pro or con, as a mother,

isn't that what you're saying?

Objection. Leading.

Seeking clarification, Your Honor.

I'll allow it.

What I'm saying is, my daughter and I

share a deep bond.

We're both mothers.

There is no word for it, no sign.

It's a woman's love of her child.

It connects Adam to Laura, her to me...

all of us, all women

into a vast network

much more important than any Internet.

What about Dan?

Can't a man, a father, deaf or hearing,

have the same connection

with his child?

Dan is a wonderful father.

I know that he loves

Adam deeply.

That they share a deep bond of their own.

But I also know that there are many deaf people

for whom the implant was not successful.

Dan needs to know that with or without the implant,

Adam will always be deaf,

and he must never be denied his sign language.

What is Deaf Pride?

Dignity, self-respect.

Can someone who acquires deafness,

is not born deaf, have Deaf Pride?

Well...

no, it's not the same.

How so?

Being born deaf gives you what?

A deeper understanding, appreciation of the deaf world.

GRISHAM: So, are you saying

there are two worlds-- one for the hearing,

-one for the deaf? -Yes.

GRISHAM: But isn't it true that the only difference

between a deaf and hearing person

is that one hears and the other doesn't?

-Otherwise they are entirely the same? -No, it's more than that.

As I explained in my book,

we are a minority in this country--

with a culture.

And like other minorities,

we have some painful history.

Discrimination, prejudice, lack of opportunity.

All we want is to be ourselves,

be perceived as people

and to celebrate who we are.

But wouldn't life be easier for you if you could hear?

The majority always thinks each minority

wants to be like them.

Most hearing people think that a deaf person,

if given a chance, would rather be hearing than deaf.

Not true.

Not for me.

I know who I am.

I have my people, I have my language,

I have my culture-- my identity.

Let me be.

As my wife says,

God made all of us different

for a reason.

Yeah. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Dah-dee.

Dah-dee.

Uh, yes, what...

what is it?

Potatoes? Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you, Daddy.

You're...

you're welcome.

[phone ringing]

Oh, my, uh... phone. Ringing.

[door closes]

When did that start-- Adam speaking?

Stop it.

What is going on?

Something is wrong with you and Dan.

What is it?

Dan... he and I think we should...

Are you two planning to separate?

No, no.

Dan thinks we should...

...explore the idea of getting Adam an implant.

No, Mom, we just finished.

I wish you and Dad were here.

You won't believe, what...

Wait a minute. Hold on a second.

It's Grandma.

She wants to talk to you.

Okay? All right.

Use your voice.

You sounded great.

And it would make her very, very happy, so...

Say, "Hello, Grandma.

Happy Thanksgiving," okay?

Here.

No...

Adam, just use your voice.

Please.

Okay. [laughs softly]

He says, "Hi, Grandma. Happy Thanksgiving."

Yeah. Yeah.

She says, "Happy Thanksgiving

to you, too."

Ah.

Did you eat a lot of turkey?

You would never

stick an implant in our grandson.

You know that I love him the way he is.

But I'm just so afraid--

what if I'm holding him back in some way?

Holding him back?!

Has being deaf held me back?

No, of course not!

When I was his age,

I was the only deaf kid in the entire town.

I was made fun of, I was beat up.

-I was alone. -She knows.

Nobody ever signed to me. Nobody.

My father told me to talk like he did.

He'd tie my hands together and lock me in a closet

to keep me from signing.

Yes, yes, it was awful.

-She knows. -My father wanted

my deafness to go away.

Like these implants.

Wipe us out. No more deaf.

She has to figure out what's best for her son.

You can't force your experience on her.

You're a deaf mother with a deaf son!

I'm his mother first.

You are deaf first!

And Dan is still his father.

Dan is ashamed of his own son!

-And his wife? -Stop it, both of you!

Dan loves me for my heart, not my ears.

I am Dan's wife--

-not his deaf wife, his wife. -I see different.

What do you see, that Dan doesn't love me anymore?

Dan thinks we're handicapped, disabled.

-What?! -No. The truth is, you think that...

about yourself!

Come on, let's go.

You're a proud man and I love you,

but you live too much

with a capital "D."

Deaf way or no way.

You see yourself as a deaf man

instead of just a man.

End of subject! Finished!

You were born deaf.

You have a responsibility

to pass on our culture.

"Born deaf"! "Born deaf"!

As if that made me more deaf!

[door slams]

It's time for all of this to stop.

Tell her.

You...

You were born hearing.

You were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen.

Is that true?

On the morning you were born,

I...

I walked into the hospital room.

Your mother held you, wrapped in a pink blanket.

I stood behind you and...

And we knew.

And you were disappointed.

I was upset, said some things,

scared your mother.

I was relieved

when your hearing finally went away.

[sighs]

Before then, you were very hard of hearing.

Without hearing aids, you heard very little.

A loud noise, door slam, a siren.

A teakettle.

[sighs]

What?

You never gave me hearing aids.

Why?

So you could say I was born deaf?

We did what we felt was best

for our daughter.

You couldn't accept me as I was.

Is everyone mad at me?

No. No.

Nobody's mad at you.

I'm very proud of you.

[laughs gently]

Okay.

This is the story of... Pinocchio.

All right.

"Once upon a time, there was a woodcutter.

"Now, he was very lonely.

"Now, what this old man wanted more than anything in the world

"was a son.

"But instead,

"he only had a puppet.

"So, this lonely...

"...this lonely man pretended that the puppet was a real boy."

[car engine starts outside]

DAN: So...

you were born hearing?

I... saw.

That was a private conversation.

I was worried about you.

Don't walk away from me.

I love you, all right?

I'm... I-I am not the big bad hearing man.

Oh! Deaf, hearing, deaf, hearing!

I'm sick of it! All of it!

-Laura... -[angry grunt]

Laura, look... look at me, look at me.

No! No!

-Leave me alone! Don't touch me! -Laura!

Everybody, leave me alone!

Laura, stop.

-Stop, stop. -[cries]

Stop. Stop.

-[groaning, crying] -Stop.

Stop it.

-[sobbing] -Stop it, stop.

It's all right.

It's okay, it's okay.

[sobbing]

[slow, gentle theme playing]

What's that?

A robot.

A robot? Mm-hmm.

Good one.

Thanks.

Your father wants you to know that he loves you very much.

I know he does.

[doorbell rings]

SALLY: You have to understand

that it isn't easy for him.

Mom, can I go out and play?

Mm-hmm. That's fine.

Let me take a look.

What do I do about Adam?

About my husband?

When your father and I were first married...

Your marriage and mine, your era and mine

were worlds apart.

SALLY: Perhaps.

I teach deaf kids,

but I had never seen a child slowly go deaf over time

until it happened to my son.

It happened to my daughter.

[sighs]

He would stand right here in this room

and turn up the TV set louder and louder...

and still not hear it,

and then look to me.

It can be heartbreaking.

The deaf part of me said,

"Don't worry, Adam, there's nothing wrong with you."

That's right.

But...

the mother part of me

was saying, "My little boy is scared and confused,

and I can't help him."

[sighs]

Well, maybe now I can.

You have choices today I never had to face.

If you had a choice with me, what would you have done?

[chuckles]

You are what you are meant to be.

You're a teacher.

What is the lesson you want to give your son?

[phone beeps]

Excuse me, Dr. Walter, I can't get a...

I was just saying, I-I can't get a...

Oh, I'm-I'm sorry.

You're-you're deaf?

Hard-of-hearing.

Oh, uh, no one told me.

One partner in your marriage is deaf.

That's why I've been assigned to your case.

Please, have a seat.

Uh, do you want some coffee?

No, thank you.

Being hard-of-hearing and deaf are two different things.

Yes.

I think I heard that from somewhere.

So, you were saying...?

Yeah, I-I can't get a signal in this area for s...

Has... My wife-- has she called you yet?

No. No, she hasn't.

Well... she's late. I don't know where she is.

You're here.

Yes, I'm here.

But I think the whole point was for you

to assess Laura and me

-as a couple. -That's right.

Well, I hate to point out the obvious, but Laura's not here.

That's right.

And if she's not here,

then she can't tell us how she feels about the implant.

I think she is telling us how she feels about the implant.

I hate to point out the obvious.

Is this typical of Laura?

Not calling? Not showing up?

No.

Then why is she doing it now?

I want to focus on Adam,

not make this about her.

He's her son.

Yeah, well, he's my son, too.

I mean, what am I?

Am I the "evil hearing father"

because, you know, I want my kid to, you know, hear again?

No, of course not.

Thank you.

But know what?

Debating on the pros and cons

of getting an implant is not my job.

-It doesn't interest me. -Oh.

Well, what does interest you?

You.

You interest me.

[scoffing laugh]

[sighs]

Talk with your wife,

and we'll arrange another time.

I don't think I have any more time.

May I ask you a question?

Of course.

That's why I'm here.

When Laura and I got married,

we wanted to have a baby real bad.

I knew when Adam was conceived, it was beautiful.

I mean, I-I-I-I knew.

I knew we were making our baby.

That's a nice thing to remember.

No, it's not.

Because when I was holding Laura in my arms...

all I could think about was...

please... make us a hearing baby.

Does... does that make me bad?

It's late.

Adam sleeping?

Yeah. He kept asking me, "Where's Daddy?"

I met with the, uh, therapist today.

We had, uh, had that appointment, remember?

I was worried that something had happened.

Something did happen.

Did you explain to Adam

why Mommy not only didn't show up

at her 3:45 appointment with the therapist

and with Daddy, but didn't even call?

I tried calling.

I tried texting.

But it-it wouldn't send.

It just said, "Signal failure."

Well, I couldn't get a signal in that building, so...

So I tried to reach the receptionist.

I typed a message but stopped.

Mm-hmm.

The words I typed on my screen were there:

"Can you find my husband?"

Where have you gone?

One plus one makes two.

I teach math,

-don't forget. -Whoa, whoa, whoa.

One plus one...

-makes two? -Adam and I.

If there's something wrong with Adam,

then there's something wrong with me.

And I don't know when that happened.

When did that happen?

When did that happen?!

That I became disabled?! To you?!

Dis-abled!

Not able!

To what, be your wife, your lover?!

Carry on a conversation-- what?! What happened?!

You can't have a conversation with anyone without me,

can you?!

Without me having to interpret everything for you

back and forth, back and forth!

God gave me a hearing son

and then He let me fall in love with him.

And then, then He...

[Laura crying, sniffling]

God gave me a hearing son

and then took him away from me.

And now, I see him sitting with you,

just signing away, and I think to myself, "No, it's not fair.

He was mine!"

He's ours!

I want my son back!

We were a family.

So much has happened since Adam's birthday.

My wife and I are, you know, here...

legally separated.

Your Honor,

please, just give me my son.

Are you currently employed, Mr. Miller?

I work at Krupp, Harrison & Dean.

It's one of the biggest PR firms in the city.

And how does your salary compare to that of your wife?

I make more than three times her salary, and next year

they're going to make me senior vice president.

Your Honor, submitted are financial statements

of Mr. Miller's current holdings,

as well as projection reports of future earnings.

It includes a financial portfolio Mr. Miller has created

to fund Adam's future care and education.

Does it also include the cost of getting a cochlear implant?

Objection!

Sustained. Out of line. I'm warning you.

GRISHAM: Mr. Miller,

are you willing and able to undertake

the financial responsibility of raising a child,

as well as alimony payments to your wife,

should your separation become final?

I'll provide Adam with whatever he needs

and help Laura any way I can.

Mr. Miller...

do you love your son?

Uh, more than anything in the world.

Does he seem any less to you, now that he is deaf?

[clears throat] Absolutely not.

He's my son.

I want my son.

GRISHAM: Thank you, Mr. Miller.

No further questions.

Mr. Miller, if you retain custody of your son,

will you give him a cochlear implant?

Objection!

The question is hypothetical

and asks the witness to theorize on future events.

Your Honor, the question is no more hypothetical

than a report of projected earnings.

Mr. Miller could lose his job tomorrow.

The question is fundamental

to the child's future under care of this witness.

I'll allow it, but... remember, this is a custody hearing.

It's not a legal debate about implants.

The witness will answer.

Mr. Miller, I'll ask you again.

If you receive custody of your son,

will you give him a cochlear implant?

[clears throat]

He'll never hear Mozart again.

-Or the Beatles. -Yes or no?

Or Beethoven.

Beethoven was deaf, Mr. Miller.

Or the crack of a baseball bat

-in a major league ballpark. -Yes or no?

I want my son to hear those things.

Yes, I would give him a cochlear implant.

So, the truth is, you don't accept your son

for who he is, do you?

Of course I do.

Then why are you planning to have him surgically altered?

Objection. Inflammatory.

Sustained.

Why the rush, Mr. Miller?

Why not allow Adam

the freedom of experiencing life as a deaf person?

Then, as an adult, he can decide for himself.

The best time is now.

For him or for you?

A parent has to decide what's best for his child.

But the child's mother is pleading with you not to do it.

Is she not also the child's parent?

She may be deaf, but she has a voice.

Does she not, Mr. Miller?

I'm thinking of Adam's best interests.

But is it in Adam's best interest

to surgically insert an electronic device

into his skull, when the benefits

are controversial and the long-term effects are unknown?

I want my son to be able to hear a smoke detector or a symphony,

use a telephone, or hear someone yell, "Look out!"

Or his grandmother say, "I love you."

I mean, is that such a terrible thing?

-Mr. Miller, nobody is saying... -What am I supposed to do?

Keep him from hearing on purpose when I don't have to?

Why would I do that? What kind of father would I be?

Your Honor, could you please have

-Mr. Miller answer the question? -I would cut off my right arm

in a heartbeat for my boy, if that made his life easier.

Isn't that how a parent is supposed to feel?

Is Dan a bad father?

No.

And do you consider yourself a good mother?

Of course.

And yet Dan is trying to afford

every opportunity for your son and you are not.

Objection.

I'll rephrase.

How do you reconcile the fact that your son,

without an implant, has a much more limited future?

That's a matter of opinion.

-I don't think he does. -Opinion, Mrs. Miller?

We've established that statistically.

I'm a teacher.

I teach my students that deafness is not a disability.

GRISHAM: All right.

That it's something to be celebrated.

All right, all right, thank you, Mrs. Miller.

Wait. I've not stopped talking.

You've answered the question, Mrs....

Your Honor, objection!

The wtness should be allowed to answer the question fully.

I will allow it. The witness will continue.

I teach them to accept their deafness,

cherish it, revel in it.

As his mother, I tell Adam to accept his deafness.

That he is not disabled.

-That he is able... -Your Honor, we've already established

that Adam is disabled.

You've made your point, Mr. Grisham.

He is able to do everything except hear.

That his inability to hear

has no effect on his ability to think

to achieve, to love.

Adam's ability to love is not in question here, Your Honor.

Let me hear her out, Mr. Grisham.

LAURA: My job is to teach Adam to be himself,

to thrive and grow up to become a decent and kind man

no matter what.

To celebrate his difference, his uniqueness.

Adam has already experienced one trauma-- becoming deaf.

I feel he shouldn't be put through another one.

I believe what's best for Adam

is to let him be.

Let him be Adam.

And that's why

I must have custody of my son.

Let me remind both parties once again:

This is a custody hearing.

The purpose of these proceedings is not

for the court to decide

whether the minor should receive an implant.

That's a personal issue.

I will deliberate over the weekend.

This court will reconvene on Monday at 3:00,

at which time

I will rule on the matter of the custody of the minor.

[gavel bangs]

It's all right.

Leonard, what does this mean?

Exactly what she said.

We have to wait till Monday.

Longest weekend of my life.

You still have the rest of the day.

Go to work, Dan.

Do you think I have a chance?

You have a good chance.

GRISHAM: Have a nice weekend.

-See you Monday. -Yeah.

See you Monday, Ms. Tate.

TATE: Yeah, see you then.

WOMAN: And I was thinking, I've been very happy

at Hunter Connor & Associates,

so how do I know we won't regret a move?

Dan?

What?

Oh, no. I heard you.

Did you?

Really?

Uh, no, I did. I did.

Uh, to me, public relations is about perception.

My job is to recognize what it is about you

that makes you, you know, uh... unique.

Special.

Ah.

Look. I've got a moustache.

Yes, I can see that.

See, I can shave, just like Daddy.

When is Daddy coming home?

Drink up. Time for bed.

I don't like Daddy not being here with us.

Neither do I.

[crying]

[doorbell rings]

I, uh... I... [clears throat]

I-I didn't know...

My hands are shaking.

[groans, clears throat]

My, uh...

My father used to tell me that, uh,

life was shaped by choices.

Everybody must decide

what's best for them.

Make their own choice.

And, uh...

from the beginning, I said

I only wanted what was best for Adam.

That's not true.

I really wanted... what was best...

for me.

And...

what's best for me...

...is you.

I miss...

my best friend.

I've been so afraid

of losing my connection with my boy

and through all of this,

all I wanted was to run to my best friend and talk,

to share how

scared I am.

How hurt I felt.

How confused I've been.

How much I've been struggling.

And the hardest part was...

not... being able to.

I want my best friend back.

Adam...

wants...

he needs...

both of us.

I don't think we need a judge

to, um... decide-- no, no-- to choose...

...what's best for us.

Whatever choices we make...

...we make together.

As a family.

♪