Original subtitles

[swing creaking]

[girl sobbing]

[blood dripping]

[sobbing continues]

♪ ominous music ♪

[sobbing continues]

[sniffles]

[chain clinking]

[grunting]

[chain clinking]

♪ ominous music continues ♪

[girl gagging]

[swing creaking]

[clock ticking]

♪ upbeat music ♪

WOMAN 1: Fifty hours. WOMAN 2: Fifteen?

WOMAN 1: Fifty, 5-0. [woman 2 sighs]

WOMAN 3: Did you do at home?

WOMAN 1: Oh, hell no. And thank God, you know--

WOMAN 3: Oh, that's right, because you had the whole--

WOMAN 1: Tear.

WOMAN 4: Uh-huh, yep, same with my sister.

WOMAN 1: Oh, and the little surgery to fix it?

WOMAN 4: Ugh. WOMAN 1: Woof.

WOMAN 4: Oh, and going to the bathroom after?

WOMAN 1: Forget it. For months.

WOMAN 2: I had a cyst on my vagina last week.

WOMAN 5: Ugh. Size of a golf ball.

WOMAN 4: Did they drain it?

WOMAN 2: Longest needle I've ever seen.

- [balloon pops] - Ha!

[giggles]

WOMAN 1: But it'll all be worth it.

WOMAN 4: Mm-hmm, that's right. WOMAN 5: Of course, it will be.

WOMAN 2: And the best part is design superstar

Ella Patel herself will be doing the nursery for me,

personally. WOMAN 1: No.

WOMAN 4: Stop it! Stop it!

WOMAN 1: No. WOMAN 4: Shut up, shut up!

This is all I hear everywhere in town.

Ella Patel Designs, Ella Patel Design.

I told her I didn't wanna know a thing

just as long as there's a crib in there.

Years of trust built off

of holding each other's hair back in college.

I saw your feature in Tribeza. Stunning.

Oh, my God, I almost died when Shauna told me you'd be here.

I need you to do my lake house.

FIONA: Yeah, well, she can't fit you in.

Our girl's graduated to resorts.

She just beat out all the major firms.

- Hey, whose kid is-- - Oh!

- FIONA: Babe? - Hey, are you okay?

Yeah. You wanna feel?

No, thank you.

It's a baby, El, not an alien.

Ella, when are you and Aidan gonna have kids?

Ella, when are you and Aidan--

Ella doesn't want kids.

Why don't you want kids?

- Well-- - Yes, you do. You want kids.

Um--

- But family is everything. - I have a family.

Don't worry, your clock will kick in.

I mean, what do you do all day without kids?

♪ I get so close ♪

♪ When I'm climbing through the valley ♪

[moaning]

♪ I feel it most ♪

And we should get that installed as soon as possible

'cause I know that would make them so happy.

Hi, Rosie. How you doing?

- My little Meal Angel. - It's good to see you.

♪ Where forests grow ♪

♪ Colors dance for us so brightly ♪

♪ I found my home ♪

♪ Hear the ocean whisper to me ♪

No, no.

Children are the best thing that will ever happen to you.

[branch snaps] [boy screams]

- [body thuds] - Oh my--

♪ ominous music ♪

[knocking on door]

Hi, Ella.

I'm Dr. Webber.

Nice to meet you, Dr. Webber.

My husband, Aidan Patel, speaks so highly of you.

Says that you are the best of the best.

We all love Aidan down at the hospital.

Keeps things light. [Ella chuckles]

I like him too.

So we're just here for your annual?

- ELLA: Yes. - Okay.

[chair whirring]

Okay, we're gonna start with your breast exam.

- Mm. - Tender?

Just around my cycle.

Mm.

Um, my mother passed away from breast cancer

when she was my age.

That's why Aidan wanted me to start seeing you this year.

Hmm.

Go ahead and scoot down for me.

Are you, uh, taking any kind of birth control?

I stopped taking birth control when I was 35

'cause of the breast cancer thing.

DR. WEBBER: Ah.

ELLA: So we just use condoms.

[gel squelching]

[scraping] Ugh.

[lid snaps shut]

Just a little pressure.

Are you and Aidan planning on starting a family?

Just don't think I'm quite ready yet.

All done. You can sit up now.

[groans softly]

[sighs]

Everything looks good.

But you're 37?

- Yes. - Mm.

It's technically geriatric,

so, unfortunately, you don't get

to be not quite ready yet anymore.

Well, it's not that I'm not quite ready,

it's that I just actually don't want children.

I never have.

I keep waiting for my clock to start ticking.

I wake up every morning hoping that today will be the day.

But it just hasn't happened.

I think I actually don't have a clock.

- It's just-- - All women have a biological clock.

Maybe yours is just broken.

MAN: Well, there she is.

- Ella Patel. - Hey, Harvs.

I bought 'em out of every copy.

[Ella chuckles]

Sweet.

Hey, I got your order already in the back.

Huh.

[camera shutter clicks]

[chuckles]

MAN 1: his what? MAN 2: Femur.

MAN 1: His what? What, what is that thing?

MAN 2: Yeah, thigh bone.

MAN 1: No. MAN 2: Right through his skin.

MAN 1: But he's okay?

Oh yeah. I mean, uh, emergency surgery

and he's gonna be in a cast for a couple months,

but, uh,

you know kids, they bounce back.

From your mouth to God's ears.

You, you get me anything this week?

[whispering] Hospital grade.

JOSEPH: Oh.

[bag unzipping]

Oh.

Pens.

I keep telling you, we have way better swag now, Dad.

We have, uh, iPad cases, totes.

Oh! No, I like my pens.

JOSEPH/ELLA: Are you kidding me?

This is caviar.

You brought him more pens.

- Wow. - I cleared out, like, six boxes

of those things from his office last week.

So? Oh, my God.

That looks great, what is that?

Beluga.

Beluga Caviar and pens. What did I do to deserve this?

Mwah!

Well, we could all be dead tomorrow.

Don't say that. You do not say-- What's wrong with you?

Pull your ears right now. Pull your ears.

- There. - Right.

That looks amazing, babe.

Look at the two of you, you're both so wonderful.

You, you're the best cook I know.

And you have a beautiful home, you have wonderful careers.

Look at you, you're crazy about each other. Mm?

Only one thing, there's a couple of empty chairs at the table.

Dad, can we not? Can we just enjoy this meal?

Her mother and I, we would've had more.

We would've had six, we would've had seven.

We loved each other that much.

But, you know, she was sick, she was too sick.

Not about how much you love your spouse, Dad.

JOSEPH: You know, her grandparents?

Ah, that's all they ever wanted, they wanted a big family.

Can we not bring Zadie and Bubbie into this?

Yeah. Ah, I'm sorry you don't want to hear it.

I'm sorry that makes you uncomfortable.

But really, their story is also your story.

And it is a story that is much bigger than you.

[chuckling] It's a story that started

when the fish first crawled out of the sea.

It's a story about becoming primates, becoming humans.

It's a story about your ancestors

who survived thousands of years.

Survived the camps.

For what, for it all to end right now, with you?

- [thumps table] - Dad.

Well, I'm just speaking reality.

There's not a lot of us left.

I just have to go.

[clock ticking]

AIDAN: Just enjoy dinner, okay.

I don't want you getting riled up.

It's not good for your heart.

JOSEPH: She's the reason my heart aches.

She's why my heart aches.

[sniffles]

[inhales deeply]

[Ella moans]

[kissing]

[drawer rattling]

[panting]

What's wrong?

What's happening?

[moaning]

We can't do this 'cause of your dad.

It's not just him.

It's everyone, everything, everywhere.

So fuck it.

Let's just do it. Let's have one.

[Aidan scoffs]

Romantic.

Well, you want a family, so--

Not like this.

I want us both to want one or I don't want one at all.

Well, then you're probably shit out of luck, Aidan.

Yeah, I know, El.

We've been through this a million times,

and every time I tell you, as long as I get to be with you,

I'm happy, with or without kids.

I wish I believed that. I really wish I believed that.

I don't know what else you want me to say.

There's nothing to say.

There's nothing that people haven't been saying

since we were married 10 years ago,

when I was fresh and shiny and chock full of eggs.

I just-- I-I am about to be 38 years old, Aidan,

and I am out of time.

I'm out of time.

Why do you seem surprised by this?

We both knew this day was coming.

And there's no magic potion out there that's gonna fix you.

Fix me?

Come on, El, I didn't mean it like that.

You know that.

♪ somber music ♪

DR. WEBER: All women have a biological clock.

Maybe yours is just broken.

Broken?

As in, can be fixed?

Big article about it in the journals recently.

Uh, been looked at as a fertility issue for the first time.

Could be as simple as a hormonal imbalance.

And if you find the right balance,

perhaps your clock will start ticking after all.

New biotech firm doing a clinical trial this month.

Want me to see if I can get you in?

Thank you.

It's just, I have this huge job that starts next week.

In person.

The dates are just-- DR. WEBER: Sure. Um, well, look.

I don't usually do this, but you are Aidan's wife, so--

Here, here's my cell, if you change your mind.

Huh.

[door closes]

AIDAN: You almost left your portfolio.

ELLA: Lifesaver.

AIDAN: Knock it out of the park, gorgeous.

ELLA: Thank you. Love you.

AIDAN: I love you too.

Call me. ELLA: I will.

[Ella chuckles]

[car door closes]

[seatbelt clicks]

[phone line ringing]

ELLA: [over phone] Hi, Michael.

So, I, um, I have some bad news.

Something's come up, and I have to pull out

of the job.

I'm leaving the project.

I know.

I know you really took a chance on me and--

No, this was my dream job.

Yes. I know how this looks and the position it puts you in.

I'm so sorry.

♪ foreboding music ♪

♪ foreboding music continues ♪

[knock on door]

Mm-hmm.

I know. It's insane.

Yeah, it's a lot.

You know what?

Don't even worry about it right now.

Hi, I'm Dr. Simmons.

Ella Patel.

Well, I'm grateful you're here, Ella.

This is my study we're conducting,

and anyone who volunteers their time is much appreciated.

Thank you.

Well, let me break down the next 10 days for you

so that you know what to expect.

First off, my background is in obstetrics and gynecology

with an emphasis on the cognitive side

of fertility issues.

I have seen too many women like you over the years

just pulling their hair out, miserable,

because they don't want to have children.

But after hearing their stories

and knowing their medical history,

I have become 100 percent convinced

that this is a fixable physiological issue.

The idea is simple.

It is the singular evolutionary goal of a species to procreate.

That is our purpose, right?

- Right. - Which says to me that

because you are otherwise physically healthy,

your system is just a little off, chemically, mentally.

No different than someone with depression. You follow?

- Sure. - So the whole goal of this trial

is to get you back realigned with your natural state.

And what does that involve?

A multi-pronged approach.

We administer medication,

a newly engineered synthetic hormone--

- Synthetic? - A regimen of pills.

The same naturally occurring hormones that already exist in your body,

just formulated to up your desire for kids.

And we pair that course of treatment with CBT,

cognitive behavioral therapy.

Sorry, how much can you really accomplish

with 10 days of therapy?

So we use a very targeted approach.

Intense, but effective.

And look, this trial is just a jumping-off point.

Don't expect to leave here in 10 days with baby fever.

I'm not a magician.

But we can refer you to someone good after,

and you can continue the work if you choose.

- Hmm. - Hey.

You showed up today. Hardest part is already over.

Tonight, just relax

and let modern medicine do the rest.

Uh, did, uh, Cara show you the dining room?

The food here is actually really good.

Fresh.

Okay then, I will see you tomorrow.

Dr. Simmons.

I might be a tough case.

You're not a case to me, Ella.

You're a human being, and the best kind, too.

What kind is that?

A woman.

[chuckles] [door closes]

♪ foreboding music ♪

♪ foreboding music continues ♪

[exhales]

I just don't want the responsibility.

And... being constantly covered in throw-up,

cleaning up shit.

Like, that's your reward?

That's if you even make it through the birth.

DR. SIMMONS: What do you mean by that?

"Make it through the birth."

Like, if you make it through your pelvis separating,

or the vaginal cysts.

Clogged ducts, the blood, shit, pain.

DR. SIMMONS: Well, there are meds for that.

[scoffs] Yeah.

Hard pass on a giant needle in my spine.

DR. SIMMONS: You know, it's highly unlikely for a woman to die

or suffer lasting side effects in childbirth these days.

But why take the risk?

DR. SIMMONS: Have you ever considered that you might have tokophobia?

Tokophobia?

A pathological fear of pregnancy.

I didn't know there was a technical term for it,

but... yeah,

I'm terrified.

And yet you chose to come here to conquer your fears.

That must mean a lot to your husband.

[chuckles]

He doesn't know that I'm here.

Oh.

Interesting. Why not?

Because what if it doesn't work?

Now, a diagnosis is good, but it's meaningless

unless we uncover why your phobia exists.

What drives it.

Okay.

DR. SIMMONS: Don't be nervous.

You're just gonna look at some cards

and tell me what you see.

ELLA: Like a Rorschach test?

DR. SIMMONS: Similar.

Some women see more than others,

but the amount doesn't mean anything.

Sit with them.

[exhales softly]

♪ ominous music ♪

[exhales sharply]

Are you seeing this?

DR. SIMMONS: Tell me what you're seeing.

A very tall woman.

DR. SIMMONS: Anything else?

Oh. DR. SIMMONS: Yes?

A pile of--

A-a family of... of dead bugs.

Spiders.

A grandfather clock.

Yeah.

Anything else?

Hmm.

No, nothing else.

What do they all mean?

We will get to the bottom of that tomorrow.

[pills rattling]

[clock ticking]

[thud]

Well, I guess we should start with the easy one.

Okay. Let's start with the easy one.

My dad has a massive grandfather coffin in his living room.

It's a very important family heirloom, our one and only.

DR. SIMMONS: And why is it so important?

'Cause it's the one thing that they--

Finish that sentence?

Recovered from their home after the war.

And who is they?

My grandparents.

Survivors. Birkenau.

That explains why you called it a coffin a moment ago.

I didn't call it a coffin.

You called it a grandfather coffin.

Why do you think it symbolizes death to you?

Is it possible that what that clock symbolizes

to everyone else, survival, is meaningless

if you as an only child make no heirs to pass it on to?

Perhaps it feels like a physical representation

of the final resting place of your family's storyline.

A coffin.

Okay.

And the spiders.

Uh, you said you saw a, a pile of--

a, a family of, uh, dead bugs.

Well, that one seems pretty easy too now.

- Tell me. - Well, that's how they did it.

They called us bugs until people believed them.

You exterminate bugs. Insects.

And when they were done, they just piled us.

One on top of the other.

It's uncomfortable to talk about, isn't it?

Horrifying. The ultimate evil.

Why do you say that?

"The ultimate evil."

[chuckles]

Well, I hardly need to tell you.

Uh, six million--

Yeah, but there have been far greater numbers,

genocides, than that.

So why do people consider this one the worst?

Because things were good.

This happened amongst wealthy, educated, cultured people.

Modern people, between neighbors and friends,

husbands and wives,

doctors... and patients.

So deep down, people understand that if it happened there and then,

it could happen here and now.

That scares the living shit out of them.

What one might be willing to do to another human being

if society simply gave them permission.

And you... struggle

with the concept of bringing a child into a world like that.

Anyone who doesn't isn't paying attention.

And the very tall woman?

No clue.

Okay.

Very good work today.

Now, before we end,

I want to talk to you about the results of your blood work.

The numbers are what would be considered low.

It won't be impossible for you to get pregnant,

but in order to accelerate the process,

I would like to offer you the option of an implant.

Implant?

We are finding it highly effective.

When?

On your last day, we would do a simple procedure, painless,

Valium, and implant a small device

that would dispense additional hormones

in conjunction with the pills.

ELLA: And how long does that have to stay in?

DR. SIMMONS: Well, the good news, actually, is that, uh,

it's not meant to come out.

Permanent.

[clock ticking]

[ticking continues]

[slams book shut]

[ticking stops]

[clattering]

[ticking resumes]

[sighs]

[loud ticking]

[gears rattling]

[exhales]

WOMAN: Day six?

Sorry.

Didn't mean to scare you.

[lighter clicks]

[chuckles]

Thank you.

Day five.

You?

Last night.

Get my implant in the morning.

Feels like graduation.

Don't worry.

It really does get easier once you make it through The Tank.

Aah! [gasping]

[bones crack]

Aah!

[phone line ringing]

AIDAN: [on phone] You got service.

[chuckling] Aidan.

AIDAN: What's wrong?

[sighs] Uh, I don't know. I just--

Rough day.

AIDAN: Meetings not go well?

Yeah, no, they, they went well.

I just--

I just really wanted to hear your voice.

AIDAN: Yeah.

I don't think I've ever gone this long

without talking to you...

since we met.

Yeah.

AIDAN: I miss you.

Tell me.

Tell me what you'd do to me if I were there right now.

The tank is systematic desensitization.

There's really nothing to be scared of.

We tailor every experience to the individual

and whatever mental blocks they're working to overcome.

♪ foreboding music ♪

Water temp okay?

[water sloshing]

Yes.

DR. SIMMONS: If it ever gets to be too much,

you just press that button right there to release the hatch.

Any questions?

I just kinda-- DR. SIMMONS: Yep.

Get in and close.

You can set your robe on the bench.

[door closes]

♪ foreboding music ♪

[water sloshing]

[breathing softly]

♪ calm music ♪

[Ella chuckles]

[baby cries]

[Ella cries]

[whimpers]

[baby cries]

[baby cries] ELLA: Ah!

Hello, I'm Dr. Elizabeth Simmons,

and today we'll be learning to perform maintenance

on a working clock.

[groaning]

We'll be using a wrench, pliers,

and tweezers

to reset the cog

behind the pendulum.

[Ella groans]

Aah! Aah!

I wanna get out!

I need to get out! Help!

Let me out!

Let me out!

Dr. Simmons, let me out!

Let me out! [door opens]

[gasps]

[soft growl]

[gasping]

[thud]

[muffled chatter]

- Oh God. - No, no, no, no, no.

Do not try to stand up.

I examined you myself,

but the paramedics are on their way just to be safe.

Ella, listen.

I understand that the tank can be very traumatic,

but that is the whole point.

And the stronger the reaction, the better the outcome.

And for what it's worth, I thought you were magnificent in there.

You made it through the whole video.

Not many women do.

You were watching me?

Of course. This is a clinical study.

- We monitor everything. - So you saw the--

- Who is she? - Who is who?

- The woman. - Annika?

No, no, the, the, the woman who came at the end.

Yes, Annika.

- No, that was not her-- - The nurse who did your intake

the first--

I'm happy to show you.

Look. Look. [Ella groaning]

ELLA: Let me out!

Can somebody hear me? Let me out!

Dr. Simmons, let me out!

Let me out!

ANNIKA: Ms. Patel, are you okay?

[Ella gasping]

ANNIKA: Ms. Patel. Ms--

Help! Somebody help us! Dr. Simmons.

No. U-Uh--

No, I wanna go. I wanna go home. I--

Yes, tomorrow.

No, I'm done with this experimental bullshit.

May I remind you, Ella,

that this is a voluntary program that you signed up for,

that women in pain sign up for.

Well, it doesn't work.

You just sat on this couch and watched scenes from a birth

without even blinking.

The therapy fixes your fears,

and the hormones fix your desire.

It works.

Paramedics are downstairs.

If they take you in, you can't come back.

Policy.

[door opens]

[pills rattling] [door closes]

Implant can cause some discomfort with insertion,

so... Valium.

Is everything alright? [chuckles]

Yeah, I'm just gonna pass on the pills.

Oh, I wouldn't recommend that.

Yeah, I'm still feeling a little--

From my fall.

And Dr. Simmons said it'll be quick, so--

Okay.

She'll be in shortly.

[door opens]

[door closes]

♪ ominous music ♪

[metallic clattering]

DR. SIMMONS: Deep breath. [deep breaths]

[gasps]

You alright?

Fine.

Okay.

Two pills daily, same time every day.

You'll be receiving check-in calls from me to track your progress.

And wait at least three weeks before you have intercourse, okay?

Okay.

Hey. That's it.

You did it. It's done.

I really believe in a couple of weeks, you're gonna think coming here was

the best decision you ever made.

Thank you, Dr. Simmons.

[door slams shut]

♪ ominous music ♪

[exhales]

[inhales deeply]

[exhales]

Aah!

Ah.

She's not real.

She's not real.

♪ ominous music ♪

[heavy breathing]

[retching]

[groaning]

♪ foreboding music ♪

[barks, growls]

[barking, growling continues]

AIDAN: What are you barking at, you nut?

What's he doing?

AIDAN: What are you doing? That's your mother, you lunatic.

Jesus, welcome home.

See what happens when you leave us for too long?

We lose our goddamn minds.

Mm.

Hey, gorgeous.

Hi.

You okay?

Mm-hmm.

You feel a little clammy.

Oh. Just long drive.

Hmm.

Low blood sugar. Gonna get something to eat.

Okay. Well, I want to hear all about it.

- Mm-hmm. - I've got a bottle coming to temp.

Mm.

[switch clicking]

DR. SIMMONS: Hello. I'm Dr. Elizabeth Simmons.

And today, we'll be learning to perform maintenance

on a working clock.

We will take the clock apart,

reassemble it,

and then put it in beat.

So that it will run reliably.

[whispering] I missed you.

[whispering] I missed you.

[kisses]

[Ella chuckles]

[Ella moans]

[heavy breathing]

Wait.

I-- Um,

I'm actually exhausted

from the week and the drive.

AIDAN:

Okay.

Whew. Is it hot in here?

AIDAN: No.

I'm gonna get some water.

[lid opens]

[exhales]

Phew.

Ugh.

[eggshell cracks]

♪ ominous music ♪

GROUP: [singing]

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday, dear Ella ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

[all cheering, applauding]

[blows]

Assholes. [Shauna chuckles]

Help me.

- Yay! - Woo!

SHAUNA: So, when do you start the install?

On the resort?

Not quite sure.

SHAUNA: Okay, but you'll do the nursery first, right?

Of course.

Ella, you've been saying that for months.

You really don't have to do it if you're too busy.

We completely understand.

No, no, absolutely.

I-I'm sorry.

Just superstition.

Superstition?

Jewish superstition.

We don't set up the nursery until the very end.

Why?

Because the universe knows when you're happy,

and it doesn't like that.

[scoffs] Jesus, El.

ELLA: We have a vengeful god.

Who I very much don't believe in.

So, yes, I will start tomorrow.

Promise.

Well, you better.

Can I--

You wanna touch it?

ELLA: Is that okay?

Yeah, of course.

[humming]

El?

♪ ominous music ♪

Oh, my God.

Shauna, don't move.

SHAUNA: What?

What is it?

Don't move.

I got you.

What?

ELLA: Just stay still.

Don't move.

AIDAN: El?

Ahh! AIDAN: El! El!

I'm not feeling very good.

Ugh.

Oh.

[whispering] I think we have to go.

AIDAN: Okay.

ELLA: I'll be back tomorrow... SHAUNA: Wait.

ELLA: ...to start the nursery.

Thank you.

[sighs]

SHAUNA: Oh, okay, love you guys. AIDAN: Love you.

FIONA: Is she okay? AIDAN: Yeah, she's fine, she's fine.

Just tired.

SHAUNA: Let me know what time--

Aidan.

Harvey?

HARVEY: Yes, sweetheart?

Why'd you change everything around?

Huh?

I can't find anything.

Yeah, I didn't change a thing.

Harvey, this is where the blues are.

I'm looking for sky blue. This is where the blues are.

Yeah. Aisle three.

You're in the right spot.

Right. Sorry.

[phone buzzing]

HARVEY: Hey, holler if you need me.

[buzzing]

Hello.

DR. SIMMONS: Ella, how are you?

Dr. Simmons?

DR. SIMMONS: It's your one-week check-in.

How are things going?

Right, yeah, good.

But-- DR. SIMMONS: But what?

I don't know. I'm not--

DR. SIMMONS: [chuckles] Baby crazy.

I can feel the beginnings of it.

- DR. SIMMONS: Good. - I can.

Which is so, so great. DR. SIMMONS: Good.

It just--

I'm not quite there yet.

DR. SIMMONS: Give the hormones a few months to fully kick in.

Thought you said I don't have that kind of time.

DR. SIMMONS: Are you experiencing any negative side effects?

Vertigo, insomnia?

If I was?

DR. SIMMONS: We'd stop the meds immediately.

So I'd be disqualified.

DR. SIMMONS: Well, it's not pass/fail, Ella.

This is your health we're talking about, so I need you to be honest with me.

Are you experiencing any side effects?

Hot.

I'm hot.

DR. SIMMONS: Perfectly normal as your body adjusts.

Okay, let's up your dosage.

300 milligrams per day, that's truly the limit.

- Don't miss a dose. - Okay.

DR. SIMMONS: Call if anything changes.

- Otherwise, we'll talk next week. - Okay.

DR. SIMMONS: Oh, and Ella?

Yes?

DR. SIMMONS: Happy birthday.

Thank you, Dr. Simmons.

♪ ominous music ♪

[ratchet clicking]

DR. SIMMONS: Hello.

I'm Dr. Elizabeth Simmons.

And today, we'll be learning to perform maintenance

on a working clock.

We will take the clock apart, reassemble it,

and then put it in beat so that it will run--

We will be using a wrench, pliers,

and tweezers.

We will take the clock apart--

So that it will run reliably.

[knock on door] SHAUNA: El?

Don't, don't, don't. Yeah, yeah.

Don't, don't. I just--

I don't want you to see it yet.

SHAUNA: Okay.

Wanna take a little walk with me?

Need to stretch my legs.

Yeah. Sure. One second.

[panting]

[groans]

[chuckles] No peeking.

SHAUNA: Where's your crew?

ELLA: This one's all me.

My gift. SHAUNA: I cannot wait.

[keys jingling]

[phone buzzing]

- You want me to get it? - Yeah.

Ah, unknown.

Uh, I'll take it. Here.

- Huh? - I'll meet you in there.

Okay.

- Got it? - I got it.

Dad, we're here.

Hello?

DR. SIMMONS: Hi, Ella, Dr. Simmons here.

Hi. DR. SIMMONS: Two-week check-in.

[clock ticking] JOSEPH: They decided to take me off the Plavix,

and now he's decided to put me on something called--

It's some-- Uh, it's some empire.

AIDAN: Empire? JOSEPH: Byzantine or something.

I don't know. They come up with these ridiculous names.

[ticking continues]

AIDAN: Persantine. JOSEPH: Persantine, yes.

AIDAN: Okay, uh--

[muffled conversation]

Look, this is you and your mother.

You couldn't have been more than, I don't know,

you're probably two days old here.

She was so excited about becoming a mother.

Which reminds me, I have to call your mother back,

because she promised to bring me over the whatchamacallit stuff

I love with the pistachios.

[laughing] I love it. AIDAN: Okay.

JOSEPH: And-- Oh, look at you here, oh, my God, how cute you are!

My little flaterl.

AIDAN: Flaterl?

My little butterfly, my little butterfly.

And somebody's bar mitzvah, I don't know whose.

And something-- What's under here?

Oh, my God.

I have been looking for this photograph for years.

Who is that?

What? Well, you-- Well, you know who this is.

- No, I don't. - Yeah, this is your grandmother.

This is the first picture that she had taken in America.

Well, it's understandable.

I mean, you don't recognize her

because she's only 80 pounds here.

She just came out of the camps.

[panting] She's horrifying.

- What? - El.

That woman lived a horror story.

Yeah, well, I never wanna hear her story again.

Well, you can close your ears and you can close your eyes,

but you can't outrun her.

We trace our line through the women, through the matriarchs.

Her story is in you.

- It's your legacy. - Quite the inheritance.

What?

Let me tell you something, Ella.

When somebody receives an inheritance,

they can either graciously accept what's been given to them,

or they can piss it away.

They can just piss it away.

Don't do that.

- And you, my ungrateful child... - Don't do that. Don't do that.

- ...you've chosen to just piss it away. - Dad, stop. Just stop.

Stop, Dad.

- What about this? Us! - No.

- Not that one. Not that one. - Piss us--

- No! - Piss us away.

The entire family line. ELLA: [crying] No. Stop.

I'm trying, Dad.

[sniffles] Uh.

I promise I am trying.

[Ella crying]

DR. SIMMONS: A regimen of pills.

The same naturally occurring hormones

that already exist in your body.

Just formulated to up your desire for kids.

Don't miss a dose.

[gasps]

[clattering]

[keys jingling]

[groans]

[panting]

[keys jingling]

[knocking on door] [doorbell ringing]

FIONA: Jesus. Okay.

El?

I left something in the nursery.

[coughing]

SHAUNA: El?

No, Shaun, it's not done yet.

- Don't come in here, it's not done yet! - Don't touch me.

[gasps]

What the--

Oh, my God.

El. What is this?

Is this some kind of insane joke?

I told you not to come in here. It's not ready yet.

No, I mean, what is this?

Just got confused.

Ella, I am due in a week. Where am I gonna put him?

Where am I gonna put my son?

I just wanted him to bring him home.

Somewhere beautiful. Somewhere safe!

What is going on with you?

Where did you go?

Where did my friend go?

I went t-to a place

so that I could catch up.

So that we could do this together.

Be moms together.

I just... needed a little bit of help

because this doesn't come naturally to me.

SHAUNA: No, no, stop with that shit.

- I don't wanna hear it anymore. - Hear what?

How it doesn't come naturally to you when all you have to do

is spread your legs to make it happen.

That's how easy it could be for you.

That is something that I will never have with the person that I love.

I don't get to have that. And it hurts.

Oh.

It hurts.

Ohh!

Fi! Oh.

Fi. Fi, my water!

It's so beautiful.

What the hell are you doing? What are you doing?

What the hell are you doing?

[muffled] Stop it. Stop!

What is wrong with you?

Ella, what the fuck is wrong with you?

- I wanna see it. - Don't, don't touch me.

- Just let me see it! - No! No!

Fi, get her out of here!

- ELLA: Give me the baby. - No, get off of her!

Get off of her!

ELLA: No, I just wanna see it!

[indiscernible shouting]

Let go of me!

[Shauna crying] I just wanna see--

I just wanna see the baby. FIONA: No! No!

ELLA: Just let me see--

FIONA: No.

[both grunting]

[panting]

[phone buzzing]

Dad, I can't. JOSEPH: Ella?

[shaky breathing]

Dad? JOSEPH: I fell.

Shit, stay right there. I'm coming.

[phone line ringing]

JENNY: [on phone] Dr. Patel's office.

Jenny, It's Ella.

JENNY: Oh, hi, Ella. ELLA: Is Aidan there?

JENNY: He's already in surgery.

ELLA: Can you have him call me as soon as he gets out? JENNY: Yes, of course.

ELLA: Dad?

Dad. Dad?

JOSEPH: Oh. ELLA: Oh God.

JOSEPH: Oh. Aah. ELLA: Oh.

Does your arm hurt? JOSEPH: Yeah.

ELLA: Do you have chest pains? JOSEPH: No, I don't.

ELLA: Where's the ambulance? JOSEPH: No ambulance.

I didn't call an ambulance, I called you.

ELLA: What? Are you kidding me?

Dad, you can't do that, you have to call 911.

JOSEPH: Don't get mad at me. [clock ticking]

♪ ominous music ♪

[muffled indiscernible chatter]

[continues indistinctly]

[muffled] Shut the fuck up!

DR. SIMMONS: Hello.

I'm Dr. Elizabeth Simmons.

And today, we'll be learning to perform maintenance

on a working clock.

We'll be using a wrench, pliers,

and tweezers

to reset the cog behind the pendulum.

JOSEPH: Ella, stop! What are you doing?

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! [glass shattering]

JOSEPH: Stop! Stop!

Stop!

[panting]

I couldn't hear you, Dad.

What were you saying?

- AIDAN: El? - Kitchen.

I tried you back on my break, but--

Dad fell.

Is he okay?

El, what happened?

ELLA: He's okay, I'm okay.

Just cut my hands on some glass.

Glass?

I... destroyed the grandfather clock.

I tore it to shreds.

I couldn't take it anymore. And he--

Oh, my God, Aidan, he's so mad at me.

It's okay. It's okay, it's okay.

Hey, hey, hey.

It's okay.

He's been a lot lately.

This, this was bound to happen.

You lost it for a minute.

Don't feel bad.

Will you check on him later?

Of course.

But let's get you cleaned up first, okay?

- I wanna look at your hands. - Okay.

Okay, come on.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Mm.

- Hey, gorgeous. - Mm.

Hi.

I want a baby.

El, you can't have a baby just to please him.

No. No, I don't care what he says anymore.

I don't care what anybody says.

I just care about you

and us.

I want a baby with you, Aidan.

Look at my eyes.

You always said you'd be able to tell when I was ready.

[chuckles]

But--

How long has it been? Since I left?

- Two weeks. - Mm-hmm.

You haven't let me near you since.

Longest we've ever gone.

It's driving me crazy.

[whispering] Give me a baby, Aidan.

Yeah?

Yeah.

[both moaning]

Aah! Fuck!

What?

- AIDAN: Oh! - Oh!

AIDAN: Fuck! Oh!

Oh God, there's, there's something sharp in there!

Oh! Ow!

- What's in there? - Oh! Oh, I--

El, what's in there?

Oh! I'm bleeding.

Here, here.

El, what are you doing?

Ice, I need ice!

I don’t know, I don’t know.

I'm so sorry. I-I--

- Gauze, I need-- - Oh!

There's a roll in my bag.

Okay. Um, uh--

[grunting]

[Aidan grunting, panting]

Where is this bag from?

[panting]

I don’t know. Hospital swag.

No, this is their symbol.

Do you know these people?

Do you know what they're doing up there?

Aidan?

Aidan.

Don't be upset.

Don't be upset.

- No. - Just-just listen to me.

I met Elizabeth at a convention.

She's cutting edge.

The best of the best.

That's what you said about Dr. Webber.

Who you sent me to

because you were worried about breast cancer.

Right, Aidan?

That's why you sent me to her?

Because you were worried about... breast cancer?

I just wanted the option presented by someone objective.

Someone who could talk to you objectively

so you could decide yourself if you wanted to go.

Because I never wanted to pressure you.

Well, aren't you a fucking hero?

[screams] Oh, whoa!

Fuck you, Aidan!

Fuck you!

AIDAN: Ella, where are you going?

I'm going to see the best of the best!

[tires squealing]

♪ dramatic music ♪

- Simmons. Where is she? - Ma'am, I can't--

Shit.

Elizabeth.

Elizabeth!

Elizabeth!

Elizabeth!

DR. SIMMONS: Ella?

Take it out.

Now.

Why don't we, why don't we go to my office to discuss--

No, we're not going to your office.

We're going to the exam room, and you are gonna take

this goddamn implant out right fucking now.

That implant is not meant to come out.

But it can come out, right?

No.

It would damage you permanently.

You would never be able to have children.

And what makes you think I would care about that?

Because I know that you want them now.

Because my program works.

[sobs]

You want a baby.

[crying] I do.

I want a baby more than anything.

It's okay, Ella. It's okay.

Hey. It's okay.

It's okay.

Alright. Let's sit down.

This is great news.

So why all the tears?

Because I think I'm getting divorced.

I'm so sorry to hear that.

- So how am I going to-- - Honey.

You don't need a husband to have a baby,

you just need sperm.

I'll set you up with an IVF specialist.

We'll get you pregnant in no time.

Okay.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Okay.

Now let's go to my office,

get you all cleaned up.

- Yeah. Mm-hmm. - Okay?

[softly] Okay. Alright.

Okay. Alright.

Good, good, good.

No. It's not real.

Let's go to my office, Ella.

You said you weren't a magician,

but you are.

You have made me see things,

feel things.

Have they told you

about the side effects?

Of course, they haven't.

And we are so desperate to be normal

that we are willing to white-knuckle it through anything.

Hey.

It's okay.

It's not real.

The spiders, the clocks, the insane tall woman.

My wanting children.

[crying] That's a delusion too.

Isn't it?

Isn't it?

What you're experiencing is the most natural thing in the world.

[crying] No!

I was natural!

I am natural however I am!

Take it out.

Take it out now.

No.

Fine. I'll take it out myself.

Ella, Ella! No!

[speaking German]

Ah! Ah!

I can do whatever the fuck I want.

[groaning]

[gasps]

[screaming]

[panting]

[sirens wailing]

SHERIFF: Ella Patel?

We got a runner!

♪ dramatic music ♪

[sirens wailing]

[phone buzzing]

[phone buzzing]

Never call me again.

AIDAN: It was me, Ella. I called the cops.

What?

AIDAN: I went to check on him like you asked.

Get out of the vehicle! Put your hands in the air.

AIDAN: I saw what you did.

You called the cops because I-I destroyed a clock?

Are you kidding me, Dad, you can't do that.

You have to call 911.

Don't be mad at me. Don't be mad.

What's the matter? Are you in pain?

You came.

Of course. I came.

I thought this was it.

I saw them. I saw them all.

- Saw who? - The whole family line,

even the fish that crawled out of the sea.

But they wouldn't have me, because I'd done wrong,

I'd done you wrong.

I shouldn't have said what I said to you.

You're spending your inheritance wisely

by telling a different story.

A story that's full of love and happiness.

- That's all that matters to me. - Mm.

No. JOSEPH: Yes!

No, that's not true. JOSEPH: You know what?

You want to redo the kitchen,

redo the whole house.

I'll live in one of your fabulous resorts

during construction.

All I care about is in my final years,

I'm together with you and I see you happy.

- No, that's not fair. - What?

I already gave it up.

- What? - I gave it up. I--

[mouthing] Shut the fuck up!

[clock ticking]

[crying]

♪ somber music ♪

[inaudible]

AIDAN: Ella.

SHERIFF: I repeat, get out of the vehicle! AIDAN: El?

El?

[indistinct police radio chatter]

[handcuffs clicking]

[sharp breath]

[water sloshing]

[splash]

[water sloshing]

♪ somber music ♪

♪