The Romanoffs (2018) s01e07 Episode Script

1 ("REFUGEE" BY TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS PLAYING) We got somethin', we both know it We don't talk too much about it Ain't no real big secret All the same, somehow we get around it Listen It don't really matter to me, baby You believe what you want to believe You see, you don't have to live like a refugee Don't have to live like a refugee.
("HONEY HONEY" BY FEIST PLAYING) Ah, ah Ah Ah, ah Ah Ah, ah Ah Ah, ah Ah Honey, honey Up in the trees Fields of flowers Deep in his dreams Lead them out to sea by the east Honey, honey Food for the bees Ah, ah Ah Ah, ah Ah Ah, ah Ah Ah, ah Ah Honey, honey Out on the sea In the Doldrums thinking of me Me on dry land Thinking of he Honey, honey Not next to me Ah, ah Ah Ah, ah Ah Ah, ah.
(RUMBLING) (ELECTRONIC CHIME) (WOMAN SPEAKING IN KOREAN OVER P.
A.
) Hmm? - What? - We're landing.
(SIGHS) Good.
(CLEARS THROAT) Did you sleep at all? (RUMBLING) Did you fill out the forms? You mean in the last 16 hours? Yes.
Are we gonna land in that? They must do it all the time.
(PLANE BEEPING) (CUSTOMS OFFICER SPEAKS RUSSIAN) (WOMAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN) (CUSTOMS OFFICER SPEAKS RUSSIAN) Remember not to smile.
- (ENGINE STARTS) - (TECHNO MUSIC PLAYING) How's Oksana? Oksana just all right.
You mean she's all right or she's just all right? She was doing very well in the village, but then they moved her here and she got sick.
What's wrong with her? Don't worry.
She will be fine now that you're here.
(TECHNO MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING) (CAR HORN HONKS) Where are we? You brought money? How much? That's good.
(TECHNO MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING) Can change more later if you have to.
Ooh, aah! You will need water for drinking and brushing teeth and might want some snacks.
I will wait for you by register.
Amerikanets.
Fake Oreos or fake shortbread? Just fucking pick something.
(CATS YOWLING) God.
Is that a cat? (CAT YOWLS) - (ENGINE STARTS) - Okay.
You didn't buy very much.
Oh, we're not hungry.
Don't do that again.
We didn't know.
We can go back in.
No.
Prekratite ulybat'sya.
That means don't smile.
People will think you're a mental patient.
ANKA: Maybe we should've changed money here.
Look at this.
Huh? (BOTH CHUCKLE) Look at that.
Don't turn.
How can I look? They're everywhere.
So, I'll meet you at 8:00 tomorrow morning, on the spot, sharp.
Do we get our passports back? No.
Later.
Don't worry.
They all know me.
This neighborhood is safe, but don't walk at night.
The restaurant has very good blinis.
Now go have a nice sleep.
Tomorrow big day.
(CHUCKLES) (JOE GROANS LIGHTLY) Ooh! It's working.
This is like our first apartment.
(JOE CHUCKLES) It's better than I thought.
Look at this.
Huh.
A room with a view.
ANKA: The whole railway goes all the way across Russia and stops right here.
JOE: Cool.
Hmm.
I'll unpack.
You can shower.
Ooh.
- Huh? - Please.
(BOTH CHUCKLE) (SIGHS) So? Yup.
(BOTH CHUCKLE) (JOE SIGHS) I'll never be able to go to sleep.
(CHUCKLES) (PHONE RINGING) (WOMAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN) Thank you.
Joe.
Joe.
- What? - It's 7:00.
- At night? - No, it's morning.
We have to get ready.
(GROANS) Oh, fuck.
Look at this.
Oh.
Well Keep your mouth closed.
Aah! Hot! What are you doing? You have to leave the tags on or they're useless.
That's what they said.
Do you have everything? I think so.
- You got the folder? - Yes.
How much are you taking? All of it.
I'm not leaving it here.
Can you? Mmm.
Caviar for breakfast, huh? Who says I don't spoil you? (CHUCKLES) (CHILD BABBLING) Excuse me, can we get a high chair? Pozhaluysta? Look here.
Light.
Yeah, it's a light.
Look at him.
(JOE CHUCKLES) Ah, he's so beautiful.
We should get going.
(CLEARS THROAT) Dobroye utra.
- Dobroye utra.
- Good morning.
So, they expect us at 9:00.
Great.
Did you bring your I-600 form? Uh, yes.
Everything is right here.
I'll also need your form I-864 when we go to the consulate for the IR-4 visa and a copy of your tax return.
And what about the I-171H and the embassy confirmation? Yes, we take care of everything before you leave Russia.
With the new laws, she'll be an American citizen the minute your plane lands.
Are you cold, Anka? No, I'm perfect.
(POP SONG PLAYING) Look at this.
The sun is shining just for you.
Oh.
Everyone has furs.
It's for a purpose, not just fashion.
Maybe we should get you one.
(CHUCKLES) How is she doing, Elena? I called this morning.
She's doing much better.
Was just small cold.
Russians are resilient.
(QUIETLY): Good.
Lots of sailors around.
Here there are two choices for young men: the military and Ah, here we are.
I need I-600.
No, you wait here.
I'll leave heat on.
I need coffee, scarf and two bars of chocolate.
(SNIFFS) Save one for me.
(EXHALES) You okay? - We're in their hands.
- Yeah.
(CHUCKLES) - Their chocolate-covered hands.
- (LAUGHS) (EXHALES) (MOANS) Really nervous.
(LAUGHS): Yeah.
Uh, all I can say is, I-it is kind of nice to literally not be driving.
Keep those in a safe place.
You will need them for court.
- Oh - (ENGINE STARTS) (HORN HONKING) (BIRDS CHIRPING, CAWING) (DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE) ANKA: Joe.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) (LAUGHS) (ELECTRICITY BUZZING) The director is waiting to see you.
Take off your coats.
(EXHALES) (TRAIN WHISTLING IN DISTANCE) This is the children's home director, Mrs.
Fedunov.
Mrs.
Fedunov, these are Joe and Anka Garner.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Hello.
Nice to meet you.
We're so excited to be here.
Mm.
You should give the clothes you brought now.
Oh, of course.
Uh, hope they're not the wrong season.
It was warm when we left.
They only had summer things in the stores.
Oh.
The cashier's checks now? Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Uh hmm.
Oh.
- (EXHALES SHARPLY) - (CHUCKLES) Citibank.
Good.
- (QUIETLY): Oh, good.
- ELENA: Please, sit down.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) Mrs.
Fedunov is very happy to see you.
She has been to Los Angeles and visited Universal Studios.
Joe, this is where you work, no? Yes.
But not the the theme park.
Joe's in studio operations.
He keeps things running smoothly.
(SOFT LAUGHTER) And you, Mrs.
Garner, you have Russian heritage.
Way back.
But, you know, it's I-important.
- To me.
- Mm-hmm.
Yes, in fact, you know, she's a Romanov.
Oh, Joe Mm.
You know, they are saints.
They helped many people during the first war.
They told us about it in school.
They were nurses.
Ah, I've heard that.
But that's just part of why we're here.
Mm.
Mrs.
Fedunov says it's a beautiful reason.
Oh.
We should Ah, yeah.
(CLEARS THROAT) - These are for you.
- (LAUGHS): Oh.
You're welcome.
(CLEARS THROAT) Can Can we s-see her now? Now we wait.
(FEDEROV SPEAKS RUSSIAN) There's coffee and tea for you.
Oh, thank you.
(QUIETLY): Thank you.
(JOE CLEARS THROAT) (TIRES CRUNCHING SNOW) (HORN HONKS) (CAR PULLING AWAY) (CLEARS THROAT) (SPEAKING RUSSIAN) (KNOCKING AT DOOR) I wonder who that is.
- (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) - Come on.
(SHOES SQUEAKING) Your years of waiting is over.
Oh, my God.
(CRIES, LAUGHS) There she is.
Hi.
Hi.
(QUIETLY): Hi.
Hi, Oksana.
You're so little.
She's beautiful, yes? Uh, what? See how comfortable she is with you? She's not even crying.
Hi ah, this is your hand.
Come.
Hi.
This is your time.
I will wait outside to see that you are not disturbed.
Talk to her, play with her, take off her clothes.
Make sure she's everything you want.
ANKA (WHISPERS): Okay.
Oh, my God.
She's perfect.
Give me.
Here you go.
Oh, Oksana.
Hi.
Oh So we're supposed to take off her clothes? I guess just to make sure everything's where it's supposed to be.
Isn't that right? Jesus.
- Okay.
- I'm sure she's perfectly fine.
Elena did say that she's been sick, so Okay, here you are, here.
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
(GASPS) (LAUGHS): Oh, my God.
- Hi, beautiful girl.
- Hi, sweetheart.
Hi.
- Look what I got.
- (CHUCKLES) - Look what Daddy's got.
- Daddy.
- (CHUCKLES) - Yeah.
Huh? Yeah, maybe she doesn't like that.
- Hi.
- What else do we (GASPS) Do we have a ball? (GASPS) Ay! - (GASPS) - (SQUEAKS, GASPS) - (CHUCKLES) - Uh-uh.
(CHUCKLES) Aw.
She's so quiet.
I think she's probably overwhelmed.
Yeah.
Oh, look what we brought you.
(GASPS) It's a little bee.
- Look at that.
- It's a little bee.
What is that? Huh? Aw.
Oh.
- Aw - Well, should we? Yeah, guess so.
(CHUCKLES) - Okay.
- Mm.
Here we go.
I'm sorry.
Okay.
Shh.
Tch, tch, tch.
(EXHALES) Bup, bup, ba.
- So cold.
- Yeah.
- I'm sorry.
- Okay.
Here.
- Oh.
- Oh.
Oh.
What do you think that is? (MUTTERS) Probably just diaper rash.
- Mm.
- Yeah.
Sorry.
Ouchie.
- Ooh.
- Okay.
Mm.
- Yeah.
This.
Yeah.
- There you are.
- There you are.
- Ooh.
Ah.
Look at that.
- You see that? - Is that a rattle? You see the little balls? Huh? Is that a little rattle? (GASPS) (WHISPERS): Oh, do I Are you happy? Of course.
(CHUCKLES) We're just overwhelmed.
(DOOR OPENS) (SHOUTING, GIGGLING) (SPEAKING RUSSIAN) (JOE LAUGHS) (CHILDREN SHOUTING, LAUGHING) (LAUGHS): Hey.
- (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) - BOY: Hello! Bye-bye! Ciao! Hello, American mama and papa! - Oh, hi there.
- Oh.
(CHUCKLES) (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) P'yanitsa.
P'yanitsa.
Zoya.
(SPEAKS RUSSIAN) Say good-bye for now.
(SIGHS) Bye.
(CHILD COUGHING) (EXHALES) - What did she say? - Oh, they're excited because they know a mommy and daddy are here.
Everything is good, yes? Yes.
It's great.
What was that little girl saying? Pee-ya-neet-sa? Oh.
That means "parents.
" She thinks Oksana looks like you.
(CHUCKLES) Why hasn't she been adopted? Who? Zoya? Yes.
She's so beautiful.
Ah, yes.
It's very sad.
Many of the children, their parents are poor and they can't afford to keep them, so they drop them off and plan to come back later.
But if she gets adopted? She can't.
The parents have to sign off papers to allow this, and they won't.
They're hopeful, not realistic.
But then what happens to her? She goes to school like the others until she's 16.
Then, hopefully, she learns a trade.
Waitress, secretary.
If not, she's out on the street like the others, and then we're taking in their babies.
That's terrible.
You still feel sad in the middle of this happiness.
You really are Russian.
(LAUGHS) You must think of Oksana and how perfect she is.
She's beautiful, yes? Yes, she is.
It's just she seemed so lively in the video you sent us.
And then, today - (CLEARS THROAT) - You have to be patient.
Sometimes bonding doesn't happen right away.
It will all work out.
I promise.
Elena, do you know anything about Oksana's birth mother? She's 17.
From a very small village in Primorsky Krai.
Five hours from here.
Very poor.
People there have nothing.
Have you met her? Yes.
She's very beautiful.
I think Oksana will look like her.
Why did she give her up? I think she liked the men too much.
She gave the baby to her grandmother, but grandmother is handicap.
Handicapped? She was too old.
Tired.
She could not care for Oksana.
So now she's yours.
How lucky.
ELENA: Very nice.
These are perfect.
Mrs.
Garner, because in Russia the woman is considered primary caregiver, the judge may ask you some questions tomorrow.
But maybe not.
Every judge is different.
What kind of questions? Nothing difficult.
Where you work, is your house paid for? Do you have health insurance? Why are you adopting this child? Things like that.
But you must never lie.
And you must never say you're adopting from Russia because it is easier.
Instead, you should say how you love Russian people and culture.
Talk about your ancestor.
Or Dr.
Zhivago.
Okay? Very good.
I go now.
I will hold on to these and make copies, just in case.
If you want, I'm happy to show you around the city.
There's a statue of Yul Brynner, which is very nice, and the house he was born in.
Thank you, but I-I think we're a little too jet-lagged right now to take you up on your offer.
I understand.
Tonight, we should go to dinner.
I know a Chinese restaurant you will like.
Oh, we'd love that.
Good.
Try to relax.
We're almost done.
If you want to go for a walk, you should go now before it gets dark.
Yeah, I think we're gonna go upstairs - and rest for a little bit.
- Uh, you go ahead.
I'm gonna stop by the business center and answer a couple of e-mails.
Oh, okay.
Very well.
I see you tonight.
(QUIETLY): Okay.
Uh, here.
Okay.
All right, bye.
Mwah.
(GRUNTS) (HEATER WHIRRING SOFTLY) (SIGHS) (COMPUTER WHIRRING SOFTLY) (EXHALES) Does this one work? Uh, oh, I don't know.
I'll be done in a minute.
Got to e-mail the folks back home and let 'em know we're alive.
My husband and I saw you in the restaurant this morning.
I'm Anka.
Patricia.
Your little boy is absolutely adorable.
Those eyes.
- Isn't he? - Oh.
- We really lucked out.
- (CHUCKLES) He's napping upstairs with Grandma right now.
I don't know which of us is more exhausted.
(CHUCKLES) We met our little girl for the first time today.
How wonderful.
How old is she? Six months.
Well, just get her home as soon as you can.
It kills me to think of what these kids have been through.
Was your son Uh (EXHALES) does he Was he sick when you first saw him? He wasn't sick.
But he had cigarette burns on his thighs.
Can you imagine? He screamed bloody murder when he first saw us.
I can't blame him.
Total strangers speaking a foreign language to him.
I probably smell weird to him.
He smells weird to me.
(CHUCKLES) We're taking him away from everything he knows.
Never mind how awful it is.
Our daughter didn't cry at all.
Even when we took off her clothes, which was weird to begin with.
But she has this terrible rash.
They all do.
There are a lot of well-meaning people here, but they just can't pay attention to so many kids.
Not the way you will.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Everyone keeps saying how great we are for doing this, but the truth is we're blessed.
All we wanted was a child and we got one.
That's true.
But, I mean, they are lucky.
I mean, this place? I'd love to t-tell my daughter where she's from someday, but Yeah.
What's there to tell? (TYPING ON KEYBOARD) (PHONE RINGING) Hello? Yeah, I'm awake.
Okay.
Mm-hmm.
I'll be down in a few.
I'll bring your coat.
Yeah.
(EXHALES) You say you need me, too Well, I'll take you At your word Hey.
Hey.
Uh, this is my husband, Joe.
Pleasure to meet you.
Patricia.
That's my mom, Barb.
Hello.
And that's her little boy, Austin.
Aw, hey, Austin.
Come on.
Say hi.
Hello.
- (CHUCKLES) - Uh, they're going to the flea market and said we could tag along.
I thought we weren't supposed to go anywhere.
Vera is gonna take us there.
Yeah, she's engaged to Elena's son.
Really? Family business.
Yeah, I wanted to get some cream for Oksana's, um, rash.
- Yup.
- Oh.
They're gonna join us.
- Um.
Good.
Uh, we should go.
- Okay.
Mom.
Come on.
(CRYING) So you work for Elena.
Isn't she going to be your mother-in-law? How's that? In school I study social work.
I very much like the children.
I meet nice people.
I practice my English.
- And, yes, Elena pays me well.
- And her son does this, too? No.
Dima is still in school.
He studies to be Internet engineer.
We are not hurry.
I think he's hungry.
It's very hard to get him to eat any real food.
All they feed them here is Bush wings.
What is that? It's all the parts of the chicken Americans won't eat.
The U.
S.
sells them here.
The orphanages fry them in lard, feed it to the kids.
- (AUSTIN CONTINUES CRYING) - You're okay.
They name them Bush wings to honor your president who sent them.
He's doing great.
I mean, all he has is a cold.
That's what you think.
You never know what you're getting here.
I told her that.
Mom, he's fine.
Anyway, he's mine now.
Whatever happens, I'll take care of him.
(AUSTIN CONTINUES CRYING) You should get a potty chair like the one they have at the orphanage.
You don't want him to backslide.
This is the one.
Antibacterial.
Russian formula, very effective.
Thank you.
Did I give you enough rubles? Mm-hm.
Make sure you stay together.
And watch for pickpockets.
Vera, what does the word "pee-yaht-neet-sta" mean? "Pee-yah-NEE-sta"? Something like that? Pyatnitsa? This is Friday.
Or, do you mean, uh, pianist? No, I don't think so.
Maybe it was more like "pee-YAH-neet-za.
" JOE: Look at this.
Now we know why they wanted the tags on.
Do you mean p'yanitsa? Yeah.
Yeah.
I think so.
This means drinker.
Like alcohol? Yes.
It's a person who takes alcohol every day, too much.
We have to get back.
Elena's picking us up for dinner.
Yes, for Chinese restaurant.
I drop you off.
(HORN HONKING) - So it's good, right? - JOE AND ANKA: Mm.
It's amazing how you can get good Chinese food pretty much anywhere in the world.
Mm, China is right over there.
Oh, I don't know.
(LAUGHS) We're celebrating.
You are a family now.
Well, to your family, too.
Your daughter-in-law is lovely.
She's not my daughter yet.
Almost.
Well, she certainly admires you.
She says you've made many happy families.
She was nice? Mm-hmm.
She, uh, took us to the flea market with that gay woman and her mom.
That is impossible.
What? You are mistaken.
Single woman, yes.
Single men, no.
Homosexuals cannot adopt from Russia, ever.
It's not allowed.
Hey, um, I, um, bought this at the hotel.
I wonder if you could show us where Oksana was born.
This is her village.
Here.
Oh, wow.
It's right next to North Korea.
This is the children's home.
We're just curious, uh, what if her parents want her back? You're her parents.
This is not like U.
S.
Once you adopt Oksana, the connection to her birth parents is legally broken, forever.
Hm.
And what if Oksana came back looking for them someday? If I were you, I would tell her nothing.
Burn this map when you get home and forget you ever came to Vladivostok.
There's nothing here for her.
What you are doing is wonderful.
You will be great parents and Oksana will have a magical life in America.
Don't ever look back.
I drink to you.
Za zdorov'ye.
(SIGHS) (GROANS) I drank too much.
There's something wrong with that baby.
We don't know that.
Yes, we do, Joe.
You saw.
It was listless.
It was silent.
You don't know that.
They say these babies, you know, no one holds them.
They're not the same as other babies, they have to learn to keep quiet because they don't get any attention.
There's something wrong with that baby.
There's something wrong with its brain.
I'm positive.
A six-month-old is supposed to babble, roll onto their tummy, play with their hands and feet.
I fucking memorized that list, I read it so many times.
You remember the doctor said not to judge by those milestones because we don't know what's true.
Maybe she was born premature.
She's probably not even the age they say she is.
She's probably developmentally delayed.
Joe, I know you could tell the minute you touched it.
Even when we took its clothes off, that baby just laid there, limp, floppy muscles.
That little girl said so.
P'yanitsa.
Doesn't mean parents, it means drunk.
That's a fetal alcohol baby.
What? Yeah.
I asked Vera.
Elena lied to us.
Why would she lie about something like that? That little girl just wanted to get adopted.
She'd say anything.
There is something wrong with that baby.
(JOE SIGHS) I know.
I mean, is it even the same baby? The-the one in the video had, like, a birthmark on her face.
Do you remember? By her ear? I've seen that tape a hundred times.
It's the same baby.
(SIGHS) I cannot believe we came all this way and we're going home empty-handed.
What are you talking about? What are you talking about? We're not taking that baby.
And I'll tell you something, if they fucking switched it on us, I want my 50 grand back.
Anka, I know you're upset, but we are not customers here.
We came to adopt a child no matter what.
We are customers.
You see fucking Elena and the way they handle us.
All these papers and forms? It's just cash changing hands.
You can hide behind whatever virtue you want to.
Come on.
We came here to get a healthy baby, and they gave us that one.
And I feel terrible, because it is terrible what is gonna happen to that baby, but it's That's not what I paid for.
Anka, I am not hiding behind any virtue, and neither are you.
We agreed that we wanted a baby, we agreed that we'd do anything to get one and we also agreed that we would take whatever God gave us.
God? God got to tell us to take every penny we had and chase something that didn't exist.
God decided that your cousin Kevin should have six kids, and he doesn't even have a fucking job and he's still in a band.
He's a limo driver, he's on drugs, and he has six kids.
God decided that.
Limo driver is a job.
And Kevin's nice.
That's not the point! (ELECTRICITY BUZZES) So you never agreed with me about taking the baby? You said it, but you didn't mean it.
It's one thing to say it.
I didn't think it was actually gonna happen.
I wasn't even qualified to weigh in on it.
But now I can tell you: no.
(SCOFFS) I mean, do you want to be cremated or buried? See? It's a hypothetical question.
You can't answer that right now, but I'll know what to do when you die.
Well, what about what I want? You want to take care of a vegetable for the rest of your life? And that's if it lives.
Then why are we even doing this? I mean, what did you think it was gonna be? It is a responsibility, and it is not easy even with a healthy baby.
Because I've sacrificed enough, Joe.
It's enough.
I mean, I th-I think back to just fucking and hoping.
And then the books and the thermometers and then the IVF.
Every IVF, the insurance companies, the hormones.
All that hope and all that misery.
Every dollar, every extra job, no house, no vacation.
Asking my parents for money, again.
We've been filling up a bathtub for 15 years, and then we get here and it's empty.
I know.
I was there.
Yeah.
You were there, but you didn't inject horse piss into your veins and ride a wave of hormones into potential ovarian cancer and early menopause.
You know I would have done anything, and I still would.
I know.
I want it, too.
That's why I don't understand why you're talking this way.
Because I feel cheated.
I can't handle a baby with special needs, Joe.
I'm sorry.
I'm just not built for that.
So if you'd been able to hang onto the pregnancy that one time and we'd made it to the amnio, what would you have done if the results came back with Down syndrome? I wouldn't have had it.
Well, I wouldn't have let you do that.
You wouldn't have "let" me? It wouldn't have been your decision.
Oh, so now I don't even get a vote? I'm just a facilitator like Elena? This is about our future, and that baby has no future.
It's not my fault that you can't live with yourself imagining that sick baby spending the rest of its short life here.
I'm sorry.
I-I don't get any pleasure from being a martyr the way you do.
You know what I think? I think you're embarrassed.
And I think you've been embarrassed this whole time.
And now, we went to the ends of the Earth so that you could find a way to get some kid that would impress the world.
That was your snobby idea of what a family looks like.
What are you talking about? What are we doing here? In Russia? If we couldn't make it on our own, I just wanted someone in our gene pool.
The Romanovs weren't even Russian.
They were German, you know that.
We're here because you didn't want a black baby.
'Cause we could have done it right in L.
A.
Healthy, beautiful children.
Bullshit.
We're here because you didn't want someone knocking on our door ten years from now asking for their kid back.
Don't get high and mighty.
I just wanted a baby that would be ours.
I didn't care what kind of baby, just that it would be ours.
Why are you making me feel like shit? Because you lied to me.
No, I didn't, Joe.
I have been perfectly clear.
The only thing I lied about was that when we got married, I said that we would have children together.
And it turns out that I can't, and you can.
And believe me, I swear I didn't know.
Oh, you don't get to do that.
Well, you don't get to act like a saint and bring up God when I know you're not being honest.
No one would choose that baby.
Look at my cousin Victoria.
That baby was diagnosed with hemophilia, and now she spends her life going in and out of clinics all over the world trying to save him.
Her marriage is falling apart because of it.
And they're rich, Joe.
So? You think she'd trade him in? Yeah.
I think she prays for it every day.
(QUIETLY): Oh, man.
I never knew you were this much of a pessimist.
I mean, it's a baby.
Uh, your mother only likes boys.
I'm sure she would've traded you in in a second if she could.
But guess what.
You don't get to pick.
This is not a shopping trip.
Yes, it is.
Oh, because you feel entitled.
You keep putting a price on this.
Yeah.
There is a price on it.
$50,000.
And that entitles me to choose.
You're wrong.
There's never a-a guarantee with any of it.
It's a leap of faith.
And the only thing that is for sure is that the minute they put that baby in our arms, she was our child, no matter what.
That is insane.
She has no chance without us.
This from a man whose father walked out on him.
That's right.
I know exactly what it feels like to be abandoned.
We agreed to take a child no matter what.
You are so fucking self-righteous.
Well, guess what.
I don't want to raise that child just to watch it suffer every day of its life, which, God willing, will be short.
What? I can't believe this.
I know.
(SNIFFLES) It's a terrible situation.
No.
I can't believe I didn't know you were like this.
(SIGHS) Everyone is like this.
All that time we spent talking about a family.
I love you.
I know.
But if we spent all these years together in this and we went all this way and you don't know what that means to me? Then I don't know.
What are we even doing together? (JOE SIGHS) You just want an excuse to leave that baby here and not feel bad about it.
If we leave here without that baby, I don't want to be with you.
(SHUDDERS) (JOE SHUDDERING) (SIGHS) (INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF ELTON JOHN'S "YOUR SONG" PLAYING) (SIGHS) (INDISTINCT CHATTER) Did an American man come in here, with a beard? No.
(SIGHS) Can I, uh, get a vodka and a glass of water? Bottle of water.
(SIGHS) (CLATTER) (INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF "JUS THE WAY YOU ARE" PLAYING) Can I help you? I don't want to be rude.
I just You know, is this what you do? Do you just wait for somebody, or do they make an appointment? Do you want company? Oh, no.
(CHUCKLES) No, I guess I'm just curious.
Hmm.
It's very simple.
Just what you think.
It's a job.
No, of course.
I, um How long have you been doing it? Mm, four years.
Sounds like a long time.
I think maybe two more, and then I can stop.
Oh, good.
So you must do well.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) I have a plan.
Save your money.
Yeah, that makes sense.
You gonna buy a nice house? (LAUGHS) Here? (SCOFFS) I want to get as far away as I can.
Your English is very good.
(DOG PANTING) Hey, boy.
(DOG WHIMPERING) You lost? It's cold out here.
Come on, let's get you inside.
Huh? - (WHIMPERING) - Come here.
Wait, come here.
Come here.
(PANTING) (EXHALES) (DOOR OPENS) (DOOR SHUTS) (JOE SIGHS) (PHONE RINGING) (WOMAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN OVER PHONE) (TRAIN HORN BLARES IN DISTANCE) (WATER RUNNING) You look very nice.
The judge will be happy.
What goodies do you have left? Three bags of coffee and a scarf.
We'll need all of it.
(DOOR UNLOCKS) (EXHALES) (SPEAKING RUSSIAN) Wait.
Hold on.
What? What is it? I don't know what to say.
You have no idea how much I want a baby, how much we've been through to do this, to be here.
But I just I can't.
I can't do this.
I'm sorry.
What is this? I'm not a saint.
I just I don't want to do it.
I know.
I just I don't want to.
(SPEAKS RUSSIAN) (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) (MRS.
FEDUNOV SPEAKING RUSSIAN) You don't mean this.
You're just nervous.
It happens all the time.
I'm not nervous.
There's something wrong with that baby.
In fact, I'm not even sure it's the same baby.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) You don't know how hurtful you are.
The director dedicated her life to taking care of these children that no one else cares about.
Her job, my job, is to make sure that all of them have a chance at finding a home.
Well, I'm not even sure that child will pass the visa medical exam.
Of course she will pass.
Only one in a thousand times has a child not passed, and only because of TB.
Oksana does not have TB.
But Oksana does have something wrong with her, doesn't she? Why does it matter? You will take her back to the U.
S.
and your doctors, and they will tell you what is wrong with her and they will fix her.
You will see.
I know what this is.
Don't worry.
I will fix everything.
(SPEAKS RUSSIAN) No.
No! All you need to do is spend more time with the baby.
We will bring her to you.
You will take her back to the hotel and play with her.
No pressure.
I will change the flights.
I will make all the arrangements, no problem.
You will see.
Everything will be fine.
No.
No.
I don't want to see her again.
Please.
(CRIES) Okay, stop! All right? That's enough.
My wife is very upset, and I don't want to hear any more arguments.
She said no.
She has every right to.
We've made up our minds and now we're going home.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) Please.
Mr.
Garner, give me a chance to explain everything to the director.
There has been a misunderstanding.
It will only take one minute, please.
And I will drive you wherever you want to go.
Fine.
Make it quick.
I have a bad feeling.
What do you mean? We need to go.
We need to get out of here.
How are we gonna do that? We don't have a car.
We don't even know where we are.
We can't call a cab.
I don't care.
We'll have to flag somebody down.
How much cash do you have left? I don't know.
300 maybe? But it doesn't matter.
We can't go anywhere.
The hotel has our passports.
- I don't care.
We'll call an embassy.
- How? We don't speak Russian.
We don't even know how to use the phone.
You don't know these people.
If we don't get out of here right now, they're gonna come back with reinforcements and they're gonna take us away, and no one will ever know what happened to us.
- Joe.
- All right, we'll Hurry.
Please.
We're leaving.
This is Katerina.
(COOING) (SIGHS) Stop.
Let me take a photo so she can remember where she came from.
Cheese.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) (KATERINA FUSSING) Shh, shh, shh, shh.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) (BOTH SPEAKING RUSSIAN) You need to stand.
(JOE CLEARS THROAT) (KATERINA FUSSING) (SPEAKING RUSSIAN) Are you Joe and Anka Garner from Los Angeles, California, United States of America? - We are.
- We are.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) Do you recognize the authority of this court? - We do.
- We do.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) Do you consent to adopt Oksana Ivanovna Tyutcheva? Oksana Ivanovna Tyutcheva? - We do.
- We do.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) ELENA: Are you prepared to do whatever is required to meet her medical needs? - We are.
- We are.
The judge will hear your statement now.
Please.
One of you must say something.
(JOE CLEARS THROAT) (SIGHS) We came to Russia because, uh, my wife wanted to preserve her unique ancestry.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) (CLEARS THROAT) And, uh, we will endeavor every day to tell our daughter about her heritage, the strength and the history of this special place and how everyone here is so wonderful, helpful, and gracious.
(TRANSLATOR SPEAKING RUSSIAN) (KATERINA FUSSING) (CLEARS THROAT) We want you to know that this baby means everything to us.
She is our dream come true.
(TRANSLATOR SPEAKING RUSSIAN) She will want for nothing.
She will have the finest education, the best health care and the love and support of two eternally grateful parents.
(TRANSLATOR SPEAKING RUSSIAN) We came to Russia as husband and wife.
But thanks to you we'll have a chance to go home as a family.
(TRANSLATOR SPEAKING RUSSIAN) And for that, Your Honor, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
(TRANSLATOR SPEAKING RUSSIAN) (KATERINA FUSSING) (KATERINA FUSSING) (GIGGLING) (KATERINA COOING) ("JUST THE WAY YOU ARE" BY BILLY JOEL PLAYING) Don't go changing To try and please me You never let me down before Mm-mm-mm Don't imagine You're too familiar And I don't see you anymore I would not leave you In times of trouble We never could have come this far Mm-mm I took the good times.