Original subtitles

Gypsy, Dee Dee, you guys okay?

Gypsy's different.

She's got the epilepsy,

paraplegia, a heart murmur.

She can barely take anything by mouth.

- I was just wondering if Gypsy wants a makeover.

Here, wash all that stuff off of your face.

- Girls wear makeup, Mom.

- You're not like other girls.

Gypsy! No!

- Dee Dee, what's wrong? - She's allergic.

I gotta get her to the emergency room.

- Your daughter does not have a sugar allergy.

Well, something's wrong with her.

- Get in bed.

- Ugh. We found Mrs. Blanchard.

- What about Gypsy? Where is Gypsy?

So what are you gonna do now?

Put out an AMBER alert on Gypsy?

It's not like she could have just ran off.

- She's really sick, I mean-- I mean, she needs her meds.

- "Sick" how? - Epilepsy.

Stomach tube-- - Muscular dystrophy.

- Wait, I thought it was cerebral palsy?

- No, no, she has, like, a spinal injury.

No, it was chromosomal. She was born with it.

- Okay, guys, if we could go one at a time,

that'd be helpful.

- She had too many problems. We must have lost track.

All right, go ahead and just let that sit for a minute or two,

just to make sure that everything really soaks in there,

and your lips are nice and soft and moisturized.

All right, so the next thing you're gonna wanna do is use a lip pencil.

I have a really nice moisturizer. It's a Softlips.

This one I like in particular because it has sunscreen in it.

So, just go ahead and start filling in your entire lip.

So, I like to start from the middle...

And I just make my way up.

- Not so bad, just takes a little bit of practice.

But I wanted to use these because they just look so princess-y.

- If you wanna go for, like, the full brow,

and it'll suit your face, then go for it.

Her brows are really strong, so, you know.

- You need fake eyelashes. - Lots to love trio...

- If you want to impress your man,

your crush, your boyfriend...

- Very white and just very sparkly-shimmery.

The light-skinned girls, they usually use,

like, a dark brown, but the darker-skinned girls

can usually use, like, a black.

- If you're lonely and single, just do as I say.

Before you know it, you'll have someone paying your bills.

- That looks good. I'm excited.

Ow. Ow.

A nice, like, highlight.

Yes!

Oh, yes, yes, yes.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you, Lord. Gypsy!

Gypsy, Gypsy, Gypsy!

Oh...

Oh, I scared you awake, didn't I?

It's okay, Mom.

Let me see.

What is it?

"Springfield Gives"?

- Oh.

They help the special kids like you.

- I'm their "Child of the Year"?

- Yes! Oh.

But I'm not surprised after that nomination I sent in.

I worked so hard on it.

I worked hard on it every morning for a week

so they would know how special you are.

Oh, and there's gonna be a celebration

right here in Springfield.

Think of it.

People coming from all over to see us,

to see you...

- There are gonna be other people my age there, right?

I can dress up in my--

my princess dress and make friends.

Oh...

Oh, of course there'll be all kinds of kids.

You've always been my princess,

but now you'll be everybody's.

Are you okay, hun?

- Mm-hmm, I'm fine. I just...

Oh, Gypsy Rose.

Gypsy Rose, open up.

Open. Wider.

Lord.

Oh, how long has it been hurting?

- A little while.

I just thought maybe if I brushed harder,

it would go away, or...

- Well, your teeth can't be going bad all on their own.

There's gotta be some kind of underlying... condition.

Okay, okay, okay. Okay.

Oh, is your throat hurting

first thing in the morning?

And you got a burning in your chest and in your tummy?

I know what this is.

Oh...

Hi, good to see you again. - Hi.

Hi, Gypsy. How are you?

- I'm good. Thank you.

- Oh, you're back. - Oh, yeah, we're back.

Uh-oh.

Now, hang on just one minute.

I don't know what they told you

at the store, young lady,

but that model is not gonna turn into a prince

no matter how many times you kiss it.

- Oh, Dr. Harley, you're too much.

Say hello...

So, what are my favorite patients doing here?

- Oh, it's Gypsy.

Her teeth are like Swiss cheese.

Now, here. See?

Has had reflux issues since she was a baby.

She got the feeding tube put in in 2002.

Then they prescribed 15 milliliters of Zantac,

but now Gypsy's complaining of a sore throat,

and her stomach is burning,

and I just know that that acid is back

and it's ruining her teeth. - Okay, okay.

Okay, I give up...

How about, why don't I bring

a gastroenterologist down here, huh,

for a checkup right now.

- Oh, you're such a dear. - Yeah? Save you a step?

- Thank you. - Ah, it's no trouble at all.

There is a new specialist here

that apparently everyone is raving about.

Ooh.

So I am gonna get her down here for you.

Her name is-- oh, Dr. Chandra.

DR. - So, very fancy.

All right, I'm gonna give her a call.

- Gypsy, your regular dentist

should have caught this a long time ago.

That's what I been saying.

I been trying to make an appointment,

but you know how it is with government health care.

I swear, they'd rather you die on the side of the road.

And you're scared of dentists, aren't you, hun?

- Okay, Mom, I would make a new appointment,

and I would tell them that it's urgent.

And I would get in there as soon as I can.

- Thank you, I have,

but we're really here about her underlying condition...

- Um... - Acid reflux.

- Well, I--I mean, it could explain the decay,

especially without salivary glands,

but, um...

Gypsy, do you take any food orally?

- Oh, barely anything, just enough to get a taste.

- Maybe 20%? - 20%?

Well, she can swallow,

but then you pay the price

with those tummy aches and such.

But she never has candy. She's allergic to sugar.

- Okay, let me check out a few things.

Do you mind if I touch your neck?

Okay.

All right, just swallow.

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Again.

Mm-hmm, again.

Okay, that's good.

- I'm not a doctor, but, uh--

but I think she has a hiatal hernia--

- When did you say she had her salivary glands removed?

- Well, let me check...

Is he cuddly?

- Just a ballpark, Mom.

Is that Gypsy's full medical records?

Could I just take a quick look at them?

- I'm sorry, the records that you want

were all lost during Katrina.

Ah, I see.

All right, well, the good news is that

feeding tubes don't have to be permanent.

- They don't? - Oh, enough is enough.

First things first.

We got a dental emergency here.

Gypsy, I gotta get you home, honey,

so I can get on the phone and find you a new dentist.

Waste of time.

All right, honey.

Gotta be in so much pain, poor thing.

- Wait.

This might help with the reflux.

Oh, if it wasn't screwed on.

I swear. Have a nice day.

- Let me help you with the door.

Bye.

So, Gypsy and Dee Dee Blanchard.

Sounds like you've known them for a while.

- Oh, only about a year or so.

Um, but they're like royalty here.

- Have you been able to obtain, uh,

a complete medical history for Gypsy?

- Well, you know how Katrina affected hospitals...

Right, no, no. Of course, of course.

What I meant was,

have you been able to confirm

the girl's medical history?

- Which part?

- Any of it.

- What if

Dr. Chandra was right, Mom?

Maybe I don't need my tube anymore.

Oh, Gypsybug.

Sometimes, people like to paint

a rosy color on things

when the truth really isn't very pretty.

You let your mama do the talking

when it comes to doctors.

Be back in a jiffy.

What a pretty uniform.

Just doesn't make any sense.

I mean, who would want to kill Dee Dee?

Didn't you tell me once how

Dee Dee's been in trouble with the law?

And, I mean, what about her ex?

Ain't she always saying how he was after her?

- Yeah, but Dee Dee said a lot of things.

I mean, we all know Dee Dee could be

a pain in the ass sometimes. - Oh, for God's sakes, Mom.

- I'm just saying, how does a woman like that

end up on somebody's hit list?

- What if she wasn't?

- What do you mean?

I--I don't know.

What if whoever did it was

after Gypsy, not Dee Dee?

- You know something?

- I don't know.

- Mm.

No, I'm not.

You're just bad at this game. Leave me alone.

No, I'm not!

No, I'm not! Just leave me alone.

Mom, he's cheating on the game.

- No, I'm not! - Yes, you are.

Oh, shit.

- Oh, hello.

We made these for you...

Gypsy was hoping to have a little girl time with Lacey,

if y'all ain't too busy.

- Uh, well, the boys are on PlayStation.

Lacey's with her friends.

I was just coming out to the porch to escape.

- Oh.

Oh.

- Oh, what the hell.

Maybe Gypsy will be a positive role model

on them girls, huh?

Follow the music.

- Okay.

Oh.

- Mom, I told you we'd be out in two--

oh, hey, Gypsy.

- Hi, Lacey.

- Come in.

Hey.

- Oh, my gosh, did you get a puppy?

Mm-hmm, yeah.

He ran right across Farm Road in front of me.

Mom's pretty pissed that I brought him home,

but whatever.

- He's cute, isn't he? - So cute.

- Hi.

Oh, Gypsy's cool.

What's up?

Oh, stay still.

Sorry. Does it hurt?

No...

It doesn't hurt that bad.

- Oh, I just hate needles.

- Is it a moon?

It's gonna be a dolphin.

Yeah?

- Oceans are so important. - Mm.

- Oh, yeah. I think so, too.

I wanna be a marine biologist someday.

- So, Gypsy, do you, like, go to school?

- Um, oh, I'm homeschooled.

- My mom's a really good teacher. - That's cool.

- Yeah, wish I was fucking homeschooled.

Here, you wanna hit this?

Why? You do nothing.

- You sit at home. - I wanna be stuck here.

No.

Oh, fuck, are your teeth okay?

- Oh, God, those don't look so good.

Oh, shit.

- It's okay, Gypsy. It's okay.

- I'm sorry. - You're being a dumbass, for real.

- Sorry. - No, it's my fault.

- It's fine. It's not your fault.

- No, it is, like--

I've been sneaking out of bed at night

to go and eat sweet stuff,

and now my teeth are messed up, and...

I'm scared because my mom will be so mad at me

if she figures it out, you know what I mean?

- I do a lot worse than that when I sneak out, right?

- Yeah. - Wait, wait.

Aren't you, like, allergic to sugar?

Yeah.

- I used to be allergic to walnuts.

Now I eat them just fine.

- I must just be growing out of it, yeah.

- Oh, yeah, well, I mean, dentists suck,

but we've all been there.

- Look out, though.

Making out with braces takes practice.

Just be brave.

A pretty smile is worth all the pain.

Just like this tattoo.

- Hi, uh, this is Doctor Lakshmi Chandra.

I'm calling from the Blessed Heart Children's Hospital.

I'm actually just calling to see if I can speak

to any physicians who may have treated

a patient who I believe visited your hospital.

Thank you, yes.

Yes, yes, uh, I was the one who requested those records.

Could you just tell me--

just complete a couple of details that, um--

that were left out last time?

Could you tell me about the leukemia?

And I don't know if I asked you,

but did she have her feeding tube at that time?

Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

The whole--okay.

G-Y-P-S-Y...

And the mother requested that, too?

I'm--I'm sorry, can you just repeat that?

How many times? Hello, Doctor, sor--

Doctor? Hello?

Uh, hi, this is Doctor Lakshmi Chandra.

- Children and Family Services. - How can I help you?

That looks stupid, Mom.

Not as stupid as she might,

but things are definitely stupid.

- Oh.

Excuse me. No, we're not.

- Oh, Gypsy, I forgot to give you

one of your medications in your meal this morning.

Okay.

Okay, here. Okay.

- Wait, Mom, who's at the door? - Okay.

Okay.

Here, open.

Now. - No.

Under your tongue.

Oh.

Okay. One more.

Open.

Now, Gypsy.

- Stay.

Wait, Mom.

I'll be right back.

Oh.

Oh, I'm sorry.

We had the volume turned up on the television.

- Claudinea Blanchard? - Oh, yes.

Everyone calls me Dee Dee.

- I'm Allison Granger

with the Children's Division of Missouri Social Services.

The law requires me to inform you

that a report has been filed by a member of your community

concerning the safety of your daughter, Gypsy.

- What?

Oh, who would do that?

May I come in?

- Oh, yes.

Oh, I can't imagine who would be worried about Gypsy.

Oh, can I offer you anything?

I just made a pitcher of sweet tea.

- No, thank you. Do you own this home, ma'am?

- Oh, yes, yes.

Habitat for Humanity built it for us

after we lost our home in Katrina.

Lost everything--

- Can you show me around, Ms. Blanchard?

- Oh, yes. Uh, this way.

Well, I can understand...

why...

people misunderstand Gypsy's conditions.

She's in pain most days.

She's got epilepsy, MS.

She almost choked to death on her own saliva once.

The hospital is really our home away from home.

Poor thing. She's been through so much.

Do you have kids?

Oh. Oh, oh, I'm so sorry.

I usually keep the room cleaner.

I have to keep everything off the floor,

what with Gypsy's wheelchair and all.

- It's just the two of you?

Oh, yes, but she has her own room, though.

Once in a while she wants to sleep with her mama.

Snug as bugs...

- Where is Gypsy? - Oh, she's in the restroom.

Bless her. It takes a while.

I can bring her out to you.

Okay.

Yeah...

Gypsy's a little slower than children her age.

She's got the mind of a seven-year-old.

You can ask her anything you want...

Gypsy, baby?

This is Allison. She's come to pay you a visit.

Thank you.

You can feel free to wait in the next room.

- Excuse me?

Some of the questions can be hard for a child to answer

in the presence of a caretaker.

- Oh, of course, but Gypsy is ill,

and if she has a seizure, I need to be nearby.

- In the doorway's fine. - Okay.

I'll be right back.

- Hi, Gypsy.

I'm Allison.

May I sit next to you?

Sure.

I see here you're 15 years old.

How long have you lived here with your mom?

- Um...

a year?

- And would you say

the two of you usually get along,

or are there some days that you don't?

What do you mean?

- Well...

does your mom ever get angry with you?

Sometimes, yeah.

And what happens then?

She takes away my plushy toys.

But then she always gives them back.

I see.

Does your mom ever make you do something

you don't wanna do?

Something that makes you unhappy?

Mostly we like the same things.

- Okay.

Gypsy, honey...

Do you ever feel scared?

When do you feel scared?

When I...

have bad dreams.

But then when I wake up

my mom is always there,

so I'm not scared anymore.

- Um, just one more question, then, for you, Ms. Blanchard.

The name listed on your address and the name

on your Social Security Card don't match.

Both the first and last names are spelled differently.

- Oh, it's wrong.

- "Wrong." - Yes, they're wrong.

I don't know if it was the divorce

or everyone losing everyone's paperwork

after Katrina, but the--the place

that keeps those records is wrong.

I've been calling and calling trying to get it changed.

Oh, you work for the government.

Oh, maybe you could help.

Oh, I'd be so grateful.

If I could just have your number and your email?

Then I could reach out to you any time I have a question.

- I'm sorry, Ms. Blanchard,

that's a whole different part of the system.

Uh, I think I've seen all I need to today.

Did you want this up louder, honey?

- Okay.

Okay.

Enjoy your movie.

Okay.

Thank you for your time.

- I just don't understand

who would call in that report.

- Have a good day.

If that dog fucks up one more thing

I'm taking him to the pound-- where you should have took him.

Leave me alone, for fuck's sake!

While you're cleaning up after him,

you can clean up after yourself, too.

Clean your own house! You're one to talk!

- Who would call them on me?

What kind of a person would try to take a child from her mama?

A child who needs care all the time?

Of course, they didn't find anything.

- Because there was nothing to find.

- Well, someone thought there was, and I wonder who.

Dee Dee.

I know I give you a hard time,

but I give everybody a hard time.

Look, everybody knows you take good care of Gypsy.

- I'm sorry.

It's just Gypsy is so happy here.

I don't want us to have to move again.

- Why would you have to move?

- It's just so much to handle.

All of it, all the time, all at once.

Coming from different directions.

Like any minute it--

it could all just fall apart.

Tell me about it.

Lacey's driving me out of my fucking mind.

- Oh.

They don't see it.

All that we do for them.

It's our cross to bear.

- Whoever called CPS

is just some nosey bitch from the Price Cutter

sticking her nosey face where it don't belong.

Forget about it.

- Hi, have you seen my mom? - She's right outside.

- Okay, thank you, bye. - Bye.

Gypsy Blanchard? - Oh.

Showtime for you and Mr. Bluebeard.

Almost done, sweet pea.

- She hates needles. - Oh, it's okay.

It's okay.

It's like a tattoo.

Pretty soon you'll have

that beautiful smile back again.

You know what they say:

The teeth are the eyes of the mouth.

Let's give her a little something

- to make her feel better. - Yes, Doctor.

You're okay.

- Deep breath. - All right.

Now, Mom, you may want to wait in the lobby.

Could be a little while given the number

of extractions that we have to do.

- Mom?

Extractions?

Mom?

- No, no, please. - Honey bee...

- I don't wanna do this!

- It'll all be over soon.

It's okay, honey.

Just relax and lay back. It'll be better soon.

No...

No...

It's all right, sweetheart, it's all right.

You'll get new teeth soon, baby.

It just takes time.

Oh, honey.

Like a little bird.

Hmm?

Oh...

- Oh, no.

It's all right, sweetheart.

It's all right.

Aw.

You want more bubbles, hm?

Okay.

It's all right, mama's here.

It's all right.

All right.

Oh...

Come on, it's our song!

It's coming, you know.

Child of the Year.

We gotta think about what we're gonna wear.

We gotta buy something to put in your hair.

I was thinking of wearing mine up.

Oh, I don't know.

Dentist said it could be a few weeks.

Your gums are still swollen.

Gypsy.

- My teeth...

My face.

Aww...

It's nothing a little foundation can't help.

Besides, you're always pretty.

Gypsy!

- I know what "pretty" looks like, Mom.

- What has gotten into you? It's not like you.

You always look on the bright side.

I got you this award.

Out of all the kids in the world, they chose you.

- I don't wanna go. - Gypsy!

You are going to this event.

Are we clear?

Hello?

Ms. Blanchard?

It's Dr. Chandra calling from Blessed Heart.

I'm--I'm just calling to follow up

and, uh, see how Gypsy was doing.

- Oh, Dr. Chandra, how sweet of you.

Well, you'll be happy to know

that Gypsy just had all her dental work done.

We're focused on her recovery right now.

She has been through so much.

Of course, I know.

And so have you.

You know, you have a very sick little girl, um, Ms. Blanchard,

and you're dealing with so much.

And actually, that's-- that's really why I called.

I am calling to see

if I can take anything off your shoulders.

- Well, I can't imagine that.

For instance, uh, changing her feeding tube.

Dr. Harley tells me you like to have a physician do it.

- Well...

I do sometimes come in for that,

but I can do it here, though.

- Oh, I-- well, I would be more than happy

to take care of it for you.

And--and while, uh, we're at it

I can, um, discuss with you

the underlying, uh, causes

for the acid reflux.

Uh, we can discuss treatment options.

Um, I--I can recommend

specialists to you that-- that could really weigh in

and help us solve it.

I--I just really want to make, uh, it as easy for you

to deal with all of Gypsy's issues.

- Oh, well, that's very kind of you.

- I know.

We moms...

We have to look out for each other, right?

I'm gonna have my, uh, nurse set up an appointment,

and I will see you two very soon.

- Thank you.

Oh.

- Can't rush it if you want it done right.

Oh.

Oh...

Oh.

Okay.

- Oh, you look so pretty, Gypsy Rose.

And that's what so many people get wrong

about philanthropy.

It's not just for billionaires

to feel better about themselves.

Anytime you reach out...

Okay.

Do we still have a few minutes?

- Uh, yeah. - Okay.

You know how I always tell you

that everything will always work out?

Each and every one of them.

- Go on.

Oh, Gypsy Rose!

You're beautiful!

Oh, my goodness.

Do we have an award for "mother of the year" too?

- Oh.

- Thank you, Mom. - Mm.

- But...

why didn't you give these to me before?

- Well, they just come this morning.

Fresh from the dentist.

And we were so rushed I almost forgot.

And this way, by gosh,

it's like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight.

Does the glass slipper fit?

Oh...

- Okay, ladies, it's time.

Oh, okay. Oh.

It's a smile that will melt your heart.

It's hard to imagine

anyone more deserving

of the 2009 Child of the Year Award

than Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

And that award comes with a gift from the community.

to help her devoted mother, Dee Dee,

and with Gypsy's medical needs.

Oh.

Oh, oh.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you all.

Gypsy's feeling a little shy,

so I'll just say a few words on her behalf.

I heard what you said before, about helping people...

saving them.

How anyone can do that.

But I don't think that's true.

I think it takes a special kind of person.

- Raising a child like Gypsy,

people wanna turn you into that kind of person.

They hear what we been through

and they say, "Oh, Dee Dee,

you saved that little girl's life.

But I'm not special.

I never saved Gypsy.

Gypsy saved me.

I was born to be your mama.

I carried you into this world,

but you've been carrying me ever since.

Dr. Forest, dial 118, please.

Well, well. Hello, Gypsy and Dee Dee.

How are you doing?

Come on back. You ready?

Actually, Ms. Blanchard,

I forgot to get you to fill out a few medical release forms,

and I need a copy of your new insurance card.

- Well, we won't get started without you anyway, Mom, so...

Yeah, if you could just come with me for just a second.

Oh, I'll be right behind you.

- Okay. - All right?

- It won't take a sec. - Yeah.

Okay, let's go quick.

Wait, what happened

to Riley the frog?

- Um, well, I get a new stuffed animal to hold

every time we go to the doctor.

Oh.

Um, and I heard your dental work was a success.

Can I take a--ee.

Oh, my goodness.

Your teeth look excellent.

Are you able to eat more as a result of it?

- Um, I still mostly use my tube.

- Oh, yeah?

Well, if that's what you're, um, comfortable with.

That--that makes sense.

- My mom says it's the best that I can do.

- Mm.

- But I hope that one day

I can not maybe have to use

the tube anymore, like you said.

- Gypsy, maybe that day isn't too far away.

And remind me, what foods can you eat?

- Um, only soft foods.

And no sugar, 'cause I'm allergic.

So if I have sugar I could die.

- Mm, okay. And how do you know that?

- W--well, my mom did all the tests.

Okay.

Gypsy, I have some really good news for you.

I spoke to a doctor

who had treated you earlier this year

in one of your ER visits, and he's not too sure

that you're allergic to sugar.

And frankly, I'm not too sure, either.

In fact...

I'll make you a bet.

I will bet you...

a can of Coke that you're not allergic.

There you go.

Here.

Just take a sip.

And--and don't be scared,

because if you drink it and you are allergic,

I'm right here.

I'll take care of you right away.

And if you drink it and you are not allergic,

well, that just means you can--you can go crazy

and have as much sugar as you want from now on.

And maybe we will discover

that there are other things that you can do, too.

My mom is my best friend.

All she wants to do is keep me safe.

- I believe you, sweetheart. I know that, I do.

And it's really clear

that she loves you very much, right?

But sometimes, um...

Even parents can get confused.

And sometimes even parents need help.

And maybe this is the help that--

that both of you need.

Go ahead. Just take one sip.

And I promise, I will do the rest.

- My mom needs me.

Mom.

Mom, I was waiting for you!

Mm-hmm.

Good.

We're all ready.

There we go. Just breathe normally.

Okay.

Okay, all right.

Good job.

All right.

- What a fucking nightmare.

All this is for one kid?

How you doing? Are you hanging in there?

There's just some stuff I keep thinking about.

Yeah? Like what?

- Oh, Gypsy.

I mean, you know how they'd talk

all that fairytale fantasy stuff?

You can't tell what's real or not.

And she told something, and I'm just wondering...

- Lacey, what are you talking about?

Detective Flores, here they are.

- You have something you wanna tell us?

- Tell them what you told me, Lace.

- Um, I don't know--

I don't know if this would be helpful, but, um...

Gypsy used to kind of confide in me sometimes, and...

One thing she told me, like, years ago

was that she, um, had a secret Facebook account.

And I think she might have used it to make...

Uh, friends.

- "Friends"?

- Yeah, like... men.

Romantically.

I don't know, sometimes it was hard to tell

what was her imagination and--and what wasn't,

but I think...

Gypsy might have a-- a boyfriend.

Gypsy, come on, honey!

Come sing with me, it's our song!