Accused (2023) s01e14 Episode Script
Jessie's Story
1
(SIRENS WAILING)
Okay. (SIGHS)
All right, the lawyer said to meet him
at Courtroom 3, right?
Okay, um, this is Courtroom 3.
Are we in the wrong
place, or is he late?
Ten minutes is kind of late, right?
You notice everyone
seems to have a dad here?
Okay, you don't know that they're dads.
Moms can protect kids, too.
All right? That's not just a man's job.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Sorry.
Sorry, I'm just scared, okay?
- I know I messed up.
- It's okay.
We're gonna fix it. It's
my fault that you're here.
Where's that lawyer?
(TENSE INTRIGUING MUSIC)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(PANTING)
(GRUNTING)
Please, not again.
So, the MRI showed some
micro-scale injuries,
little tiny tears.
And this is your second ACL injury,
which is why we did the blood test.
You have a mutation in the
collagen type 1 alpha 1 gene,
which means you don't make as
much collagen as everyone else.
Please don't tell me I
have to quit cross-country.
I'm sorry to say that
running might not be for you.
But it's how I get my energy out!
And I have a lot of extra energy.
You'll have to find another way.
And this'll heal, it just takes time.
Okay?
I'll renew your PT prescription.
Thank you.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
So I'm officially a mutant.
Did my father have this collagen thing?
Oh, I don't know, because
sperm banks didn't have
that type of information back then.
And he wasn't your father,
okay? He was an anonymous donor.
What if I have hemophilia?
Like what if what if he's a Romanov!
(CHUCKLES)
You don't have hemophilia,
honey, and he wasn't a Romanov.
No. You don't know that!
You don't know anything!
I don't know why you would
do something so reckless
with my life!
(DOOR OPENS)
We turned in our essays a week ago
and she hasn't even read them yet.
What is it about your teacher's
feedback that you need right away?
Everything! It determines our grades.
It sounds like you're
impatient to know that grade.
No, you just want Ms.
Parker to praise you.
"Excellent word choice, Will."
That's not true. I just think
(ELEVATOR DINGS) we
turned them in on time,
she should read them.
If you feel good about the work you did,
why do you need her validation?
Can you just stop being
a shrink for a minute
and just be my mom?
Do you have to hold the door?
Can you just try to be civil?
Oh, come on!
- Help me grab that.
- I got it.
(WHISPERS): Why does
Jessie's mom bug you so much?
- You used to be friends.
- Don't remind me.
- What'd the doctor say?
- That I'm defective.
- But we already knew that.
- Uh, nobody is defective
and um Will, thank
you for helping us.
- Yeah.
- (KARA): You're very sweet.
- I'm sorry.
- (DOMINIC): Oh, please.
Okay.
Thanks.
- Hey, Fern.
- Hi.
- Hey.
- (BUTTON CLICKS)
(ELEVATOR DOORS CLOSES)
Uh, what'd you get for dinner?
- The good dumplings
- Ah.
from that place around the corner.
We're gonna play a game
after, where you have to
make up the first line of a book,
and then everyone guesses
which one is the real one.
It's exactly as uncool as it sounds.
(JESSIE CHUCKLES) Wanna come play?
Fern, I'm sure they're busy.
Yeah, yeah. I've got a
lot of homework to do.
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
What time is my next PT appointment?
Thursday after school.
It was really nice of
Will to help us out.
Is there anything between you two?
What? No! Mom!
I've known him my whole life.
I would never think of him that way.
You just described the plot
to every John Hughes film.
Who's John Hughes?
(KARA SIGHS)
I'm not
- not to be over-protective.
- But you are.
It's just
Honey, I had boyfriends
too young, and I regret it.
And you and Will have
such a nice friendship.
It would be a mistake to risk that.
I'm not! I don't know
why you think I am!
Because I see the way
that he looks at you.
Oh, stop.
Ew.
Jessie?
Um
one one second.
- Can I come in?
- One second, please.
Just one (DOOR OPENS)
I thought you might wanna ice
Is that a DNA kit?
Um maybe.
Okay.
I I just wanted to know more.
I thought maybe, you know, um,
the donor took one and
registered to be contacted.
What
is your dream outcome with this?
Well, um, I guess if he did register,
that would mean he was
okay with being found,
and maybe I could meet him,
and maybe I have a
whole family somewhere.
You know they wouldn't
really be your family, right?
Why do you assume they
would just reject me?
No. No, no, honey. No.
I I don't think that.
You're wonderful.
I just
I just wish
that I were enough for you.
- Mom, don't!
- I know, I know,
I'm supposed to be the grown up here
and not show my feelings, I just
Oh, God. It is hard.
I'm not trying to hurt you. I
I just wish I knew something
about the other half of me.
Okay.
Why don't we
go to the source.
I'll call the cryobank,
see what they can tell
me about the donor.
Maybe they know more
now than they knew then.
Really?
Yeah.
- Oh God.
- Thank you!
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
Sorry. I thought this would fit.
Did you take the test?
Yep, and now I'm about to throw it away.
No! Why?
'Cause I can't hurt my mom.
Yeah, but it's just medical information.
Why shouldn't you know it?
Because she came in
while I was doing it,
and you should've seen her face.
Like parents having feelings,
it's so messy.
But still.
No. No, you don't understand
because you have the perfect family.
They're not perfect!
I mean, my dad represents criminals,
and my mom treats me like
I'm one of her patients.
And you know, Fern
actually needs a shrink.
My mom could write a
whole textbook about her.
Hm, well, maybe she can
write one about us next.
Do you know how hard it was
to get all this spit out?
(CHUCKLING)
(SIGHS)
Bye, Dad.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Honey, there's something
that I need to tell you
before the lawyer gets here.
I still don't understand
what he's gonna say.
I mean, I did it.
Okay, that's what I
wanna talk to you about.
- Kara.
- I
Jessie.
I want to represent Jessie.
I figured out a great defence.
We we have a defence.
Has Jessie signed off on it?
- We were
- Signed off on what?
just about to talk about it.
May I?
(DOMINIC CLEARS THROAT)
Jessie really matters to
Will, and he feels responsible.
He wants me to help.
You don't have to do this.
We have a lawyer.
Yeah. Uh, I know him,
and I'm way better.
Let me help you. I'll do it for free.
No, I'm fine. I can afford it.
Wait, no, no, no. It's my decision.
How bad is he?
Honestly?
I wouldn't let him defend
me for a parking ticket.
(TENSE INTRIGUING MUSIC)
- (DOOR OPENS)
- (HEAVY EXHALE)
Hi. Oh.
Hi.
You're doing your exercises.
That's good.
Um (SIGHS)
can I talk to you for a minute?
What's up?
Well,
I called the cryobank today.
And?
I have some bad news.
The donor died.
Died?
It wasn't anything genetic.
It was a car accident, years ago.
I'm so sorry.
"Current occupation: Library assistant
and swimming instructor." This is him?
He was in college.
Those are college jobs.
He joked about his excellent teeth.
Why haven't you shown me this?
I-I must've seen it
years ago and lost it,
and they just sent me another copy.
Do you know his name?
Was there a news story
about his accident?
No. I mean,
not that I know of, no.
His older brother was
a competitive skier.
Do you know his name?
No. No, I I just wanted you.
The expectation was that we
would never know each other,
never know who the other one was.
And now I'll never know him!
- Jessie, please.
- I just need a minute, okay?
- With my dead father.
- Oh, God.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(LIGHT POP MUSIC PLAYING)
Apparently, he wore blue sweaters
to both of his sperm bank interviews.
Why does that make my heart hurt?
Why couldn't I have just had
a dad, like everyone else?
Not everyone.
I mean, there's like six kids
in our grade with two moms.
It's like I found him and
lost him on the same day.
Like, why would she do that to me?
I mean, if she hadn't used a sperm donor
then you wouldn't exist.
And the world would be way less
interesting without you in it.
You don't have to like,
try and make me feel better.
I'm not. I I mean it.
I was just really hoping
he was out there somewhere.
- And he's not.
- (EXHALES) Yeah.
(LIGHT POP MUSIC CONTINUES)
- Thank you.
- (DOOR OPENS)
Hey guys? I oh.
Um, I was just, uh, sorry,
she was she was feeling sad.
Oh. Yeah.
Um, dinner's ready. So
- Can Will stay for dinner?
- I
Fern's at orchestra rehearsal
and my mom's working late.
But it's fine if you don't have enough.
Of course we do. I
why don't you two set the
table and I'll be right back.
(KNOCKING)
- Hey.
- Hi. Um
Jessie invited Will for
dinner. Is that okay?
- That's great, actually.
- Oh. Good.
Andrea's out, and I'm working on a brief
- and eatin' potato chips.
- (CHUCKLES)
Could I come in for a minute?
Uh, yeah.
Thank you.
Thanks. I
Listen, I wanted to talk,
because I know Jessie acts so confident,
but she's
young for her age and kind of fragile.
Fragile? (CHUCKLES) Jessie?
I'm just worried that
her longing for a dad
is gonna make her jump
into a romance prematurely.
And I can see that
Will really likes her.
Don't worry, he knows all
about asking for consent
- to do anything.
- But still, I
I mean, I was 14 the first
time I made out with someone.
You probably were too.
Uh, younger, actually.
But I don't think that's a good thing.
My parents weren't paying
attention to anything.
I don't know how to put this,
but I doubt you have to worry
about Jessie being under-protected.
Right.
Listen, thanks for feeding Will.
Yeah. Uh, sure.
- I'm up to my eyeballs.
- (DOMINIC CLEARS THROAT)
Yeah. Um, right.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
Okay.
(PHONE RINGING)
Reproductive Strategies.
Uh, hi! Uh, this is Kara Harrison,
we spoke yesterday.
Um, I was so shocked
to hear the sperm donor
I used in 2008 had died.
And now I was wondering if you
had any information about his family?
Because my teenager took one
of those at-home DNA tests,
so she might end up tracking them down.
I I completely understand
if they don't want to meet her.
But, um, if they did want to meet,
I think my daughter
would really love that.
I'm sorry, who did you speak to?
Uh, I I don't remember.
Someone there.
And what kind of information
were you looking for?
A name? A last known address?
Oh, I couldn't give you
anything like that, even if I had it.
Okay, well, someone there
told me my donor had died,
so I'm just following up.
I'm sorry, I don't
know who told you that,
but I really can't help
you. (PHONE RINGING)
- Wait, but I
- I hope your daughter finds
what she's looking for.
Okay, thank you.
Have a nice day.
That woman was lying. Why?
I mean, she gave this to my mom.
Someone on a thread
about donor-conceived kids
said all the companies
just lost their records
after a bunch of lawsuits.
Well, just look up the
company name and lawsuits.
(WASHER BUZZES)
Will you do it? It makes me too nervous.
(TYPING)
"Woman alleges that sperm bank
negligence caused genetic disorder."
- What?
- "Sperm donor, felon,
claimed to have master's degree."
I mean, why not just
say that he had a PhD?
Maybe one of those guys was my dad!
That seems unlikely.
I mean, even if it was, your
mom bought this vial, right?
But most of your genes could
have still come from her.
It's a total grab bag, what
actually ends up in your genotype.
But these guys are in the mix.
They're a possibility.
I need to find out what
year those happened.
(KNOCKING)
Hi. Is Jessie here?
No. Will said he was studying with her.
- I called her phone.
- It went straight to voicemail,
and then I tried to track
it and it said this address
was her last location,
but she's not here.
Okay. I'll try Will's.
Thank you.
- (PHONE RINGING TONE)
- (SIGHS)
(JESSIE): Hi.
Hi.
Will, wake up.
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
What time is it?
You cannot just disappear like that!
- You scared me to death!
- We fell asleep studying!
In the laundry room? In the dark?
The lights are on a timer! And it
was the only place that was quiet,
cause Fern was playing her stupid oboe.
I was not! And they know I wasn't!
All right, listen,
they were just studying.
Let's get some sleep and we
can talk about it tomorrow.
No, I, I
Will is to have no more
contact with Jessie!
Um, hi, sorry.
Have any of you seen Romeo and Juliet?
- I'm serious!
- Mom, he's my friend!
We weren't having sex
on the washing machines!
(YELLING): No more contact!
I
I would like you to please respect
my wishes as Jessie's mom.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Let's go.
Hm.
Will! Wait!
My parents are super freaked out.
I'm not supposed to be near you.
My mom overreacts. You know that.
Yeah, that's what they're afraid of.
Listen! I have a plan
and I need your help tonight.
What kind of plan?
A really good one!
And it needs your help!
(THRILLING MUSIC)
Hm?
Okay.
(CHUCKLES): Trust me.
(CLINIC SECRETARY):
There's always demand.
Yes, even more so lately.
I think people are just
rethinking their priorities.
Yes, you can just come in.
We're really grateful for your interest.
I can send you the
application. Thank you so much.
Okay. Bye.
Hi! I
I would like to, um, donate.
Okay how old are you?
Eighteen.
Eighteen.
Can I see some ID?
Yeah.
(♪♪)
Oh!
I forgot my wallet.
Right.
I appreciate your interest
but there are less
complicated ways to make money.
- I promise.
- No, I-I
I really just want to help people.
Okay. Uh, tell you what then,
you come back when you're older
and we'll get it all started.
- Okay? I gotta close up now.
- Okay.
Um, all right, can I just
get one of those brochures?
- Sure.
- So I can plan.
You bet.
(THRILLING MUSIC CONTINUES)
- Here you go.
- Thank you so much.
Psst.
It's really serious in there.
Okay, so?
Will! I love you.
But she might have noticed.
They could change the codes.
I just
I don't I don't know
if this is a good idea.
- (SIGHS)
- (DOOR BEEPS)
I'm just leaving now.
- I'll be home in half an hour.
- That's her.
You don't have to go
in if you don't want to.
I could go in alone.
- (CAR STARTING)
- No.
No, I'm in.
Okay. Let's go.
(DOOR BEEPS)
Over here.
(DOOR BEEPS)
(DOOR BEEPS)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
(DOOR BEEPS)
(MACHINES HUMMING)
That's where my dad lived.
With all the other
frosty little swimmers.
Oh, computer.
They've got to catalogue
all the donations, right?
So, uh, I just gotta hope their
records go back far enough.
Well, I'm guessing it's not "password."
Let's see. (BEEPS)
Nope. "Sperm123"?
My mom keeps hers on a tiny
sticky note inside of her desk.
That's a terrible place
to keep a password.
Ah! No way.
It was meant to be! Okay, um
file number 387bx.
(BEEPS)
- Nothing.
- Uh, maybe your mom's name?
(BEEPS)
Nothing.
Um, did she have a maiden name?
- Obviously not.
- And ew, "maiden." Um
You try. What am I not thinking of?
They have porn on here.
I guess it's for the donors.
They have a whole
folder called "Nurses."
Oh my god, close that!
Here's 2004 to 2007.
But none of these file numbers
even match the format of your mom's.
Like, these don't even
have letters in them.
Can you open one?
(SOFT MUSIC)
Okay um, do you do you think that
maybe your mom just made this profile
- to have something to show you?
- No.
Because the cryobank
didn't have anything
- and you needed to see something.
- No!
- I mean, just like think about it for a minute.
- No, no! Stop! Stop it!
- This place lies to people!
- What are you doing?
Jessie, stop! No, don't
touch that! It's too cold.
It ruins their lives.
Jessie, don't don't do this.
Hello, sir.
May you never have a child who
has no idea who her father is.
- No, Jessie, don't.
- (JESSIE SOBS)
This could be a guy having
cancer treatment, or who died!
This could be someone's last
chance at having their kid!
(SNIFFLES)
(HEAVY EXHALE)
(BROKEN WHISPER): I
just wanted to find him.
I know.
He's not here.
He isn't.
Thanks for coming with me.
It was really brave of you.
I'm only brave with you.
(SOFT MUSIC)
(MUSIC FADING)
There's a silent alarm. We have to go!
(TENSE MUSIC)
Ah! Oh, my knee.
You okay?
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Come on.
I'm turning myself in. You have to run.
I'll never make it with my knee.
- No, I'm not leaving you.
- Please go. I got you into this.
There's no point in both
of us getting in trouble.
Go! Run!
(INDISTINCT RADIO COMMUNICATION)
I'm here.
- (CAR DOOR CLOSES)
- I give up.
(DOOR BUZZES)
What were you thinking?
Breaking and entering? That is a felony!
- You made me do it!
- I made you break into a sperm bank?
- You made that profile!
- (DOOR BUZZING OUTSIDE)
- (KARA SIGHS)
- I knew it.
I made it.
I made it because I needed
to show you something.
You'd become so fixated on
finding out who the donor was.
- So it was all made up?
- No. No. I
I tried to remember what I could.
I just
I wanted to give you something tangible
so that you could move on.
So you lied to me.
And not some some
casual, spontaneous lie.
You practically wrote an entire novel.
The blue sweaters?
- The skiing brother?
- It was wrong.
Is he even dead?
Please tell me the truth.
I don't know how to believe
anything you're saying!
(DOOR BUZZES)
Once you sign her out, you can go,
and you'll get a notice
to appear in court.
I made up the part about him being dead.
I'm sorry.
Let's go home.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Hi! Hi.
- Kara. Hi.
- Um, do you have a minute?
Uh, a minute, yeah.
I mean, I have to go to work.
I, um
- Jessie was arrested last night.
- For what?
- She broke into a sperm bank.
- Wait, what?
She's gotten so obsessed
with who her father was.
Who the donor was.
Constantly asking questions.
And I told her that I
used a particular cryobank.
I'm sorry, I'm I'm not following you.
(DISTANT DOG BARKING)
(DISTANT CAR HONKING)
You know that thing
that happened between us.
That we agreed to leave behind us.
Yes, but we didn't
really leave it behind us.
Jessie is your kid.
- What?
- She's been charged with breaking and entering.
I told a lawyer everything,
and we agree that our best
defence is to tell the truth.
I'll testify that I
created this outsized
curiosity in Jessie by lying
to her about the sperm bank,
keeping the secret
about who her father was.
But I have to tell her the
truth before the hearing.
It happened one time.
You you said you did IVF.
Because Andrea was my
friend and I needed a story.
- Why didn't you tell me?
- I should have.
I just I wanted a baby so much
and my doctors told
me I couldn't have one.
So when I got pregnant, I
thought this was my only chance.
I just (KARA SIGHS)
- (SIGHS)
- I didn't want to complicate your life,
or Andrea's, by telling you.
Then why did you stay here?
Why didn't you move?
Because I live in a
rent-stabilized apartment.
I had no money.
I had nowhere else to go! And I
I think that
I think I thought it might be
comforting to have you nearby.
That's why you were so
worried about the kids.
Well, the truth will
solve that problem too.
And now I don't have to
keep up this insane dance
trying to keep them apart.
I'm so stupid.
I couldn't figure out
what your problem was.
I thought that the kids
would feel like siblings,
growing up next door to each other.
I never expected him to fall for her.
I never expect her to be so obsessed.
This is my fault, okay?
But I have to tell
the truth now and I
I'm
(EXHALES) I just wanted
to tell you first.
(SIGHS)
How am I gonna tell Andrea?
We have a lawyer.
You don't have to do us any favours.
And Will shouldn't feel guilty.
I mean, I told him to leave.
I'm glad they didn't charge
him. That's what I wanted.
Can I talk to your mom a sec?
Why? It's my case.
Jessie, honey, do you have
to question everything?
Please just give us a minute. Please.
(INDISTINCT BACKGROUND CHATTER)
- You haven't told her yet?
- I was about to, when you showed up.
You haven't told Andrea?
I tried, but I couldn't do it.
Just listen, here's the defence.
- She broke into snoop.
- Mm-hmm.
That was her only intention,
which would make it
trespassing, it's a misdemeanour.
Plus, Andrea will testify
that Jessie has
obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Why would she do that?
She could lose her license.
I talked her into it.
It might actually be true.
Anyway, it's a mitigating factor.
I, I
our lawyer said that
this judge is tough.
So why do you want to
risk a felony conviction?
Because this is my fault
and I need the court to know that!
You haven't told her the truth yet
because you don't really want to.
- Well
- I can't tell Andrea, either.
I tried, but my marriage
won't survive it.
I'm begging you not
to blow up my family.
We've kept the secret this long.
What about the kids? This romance?
I'll help you discourage it.
I just wish that we could go
back to things the way they were.
I'll ask for a continuance
to give us time to prepare.
- Okay.
- Okay?
Yeah.
Jessie?
I think that Dominic has a good plan.
- What kind of plan?
- It's a two-part defence.
Wait, wait. What
what were you going to
tell me before he showed up?
That I love you, and I'm
behind you all the way.
- That wasn't it.
- No.
That was it and it's true.
Are you okay with Dominic defending you?
Okay, sure.
You seem to have already decided.
Will? (KNOCKING)
I need to talk to you.
Um, right, I need to talk to you, too.
I don't know what's going
on with my mom and your dad.
They have some weird
defence that I have OCD.
And they think it's better than
what the other lawyer planned,
but now my mom won't even
tell me what that was.
And I just wanted to tell you
the only thing that makes
sense in my life is you.
Um, right.
I like you, too.
No, no, no. Like I really like you
and I'm sorry we got
interrupted by that stupid alarm,
because I really wanted to kiss you.
- And I still do.
- Um.
I was (OBJECTS CLATTERING)
I was just about to text you.
Um Will, this is like a moment.
- Don't leave me hangin'.
- I'm not.
I'm not. I mean
- we can't.
- Why? Are you afraid?
- I consent!
- No, no, it's not that.
It's uh, I know I
know who your father is.
You do? How?
Because he's my father.
What?
No, no. There has to
be some kinda mistake.
There's there's no mistake.
Remember you threw your
DNA test in the trash chute?
- Yeah.
- Well, it didn't, uh,
it didn't stay there. I found the tube.
I mailed it in, with your
name and a new email address.
I just wanted to help
figure out the mystery. I
It seemed unfair that your mom
wouldn't let you figure it out.
What about the test?
Yeah.
(AMUSING MUSIC)
I took one a year ago
for a biology project.
And we share like a quarter of our DNA.
- Which means that
- (JESSIE SIGHS)
my dad is your dad.
So it wasn't that my
mom's feelings were hurt.
(SCOFFS)
No.
It was because he was next door.
(KARA): I didn't know what else to do.
(JESSIE): You lied to me my whole life!
You have to see why I did that.
I don't!
I just wanted to give you
a simple, happy childhood.
I wanted them to have
their family, undisrupted.
- Oh, and how is that working out?
- (SIGHS)
(WILL): Why didn't you tell us?
I didn't know. I just found out.
You knew that you slept with Kara,
nine months before Jessie was born.
Yeah, it's pretty basic math.
Kara said she did IVF, okay?
And there was a lot going on back then.
It I was trying to
start my law practice.
Fern was two.
So mom's taking care of a two-year-old,
and you're sleeping with Oh my
Was Mom pregnant with Will?
(EXHALES) Maybe.
But we didn't know yet.
And it was one time,
after too many drinks.
We were all friends.
Yeah, and now Mom and Kara
aren't friends. And it's your fault.
- Okay, your mom doesn't know about any of this.
- Well, we have to tell her.
- (DOOR OPENS)
- It's not fair.
Hey, guys.
Did you find Kara and
Jessie at the courthouse?
- Yeah.
- How'd it go?
Mom, I think you should sit down.
(CLEARS THROAT) Just
just give me a second, okay?
What's going on?
(KARA): Jessie, I am
not proud of any of this.
But I am
so proud of you.
And without my admittedly bad mistakes,
you wouldn't be here.
So I can't regret them.
(CRYING): I just did
the best that I could.
(SOBS, SNIFFLES)
I love you.
(ANDREA): Oh, I knew
something was wrong, back then.
I knew it.
Why'd you do it?
I don't know.
I don't know. I, I
(SIGHS) I think maybe
you were so preoccupied
with Fern and I just
it didn't feel like
there was any room for me.
I'd been feeding her from my body!
I never slept! How was I
supposed to not be occupied?
I'm not saying it as an excuse,
I'm just trying to tell
you where my head was.
Where your head was?
(DRY CHUCKLE) Yeah.
Please, Andrea.
I just want to make this right.
I know you always wanna keep
your patients' families together.
You're not my patient, Dominic.
(SOFT MUSIC)
Listen, guys.
This has nothing to do with you, okay?
I'm just gonna go to
my sister's for a while
and I'll call you really soon.
Shouldn't Dad leave?
He's the one who screwed up.
That's true. I can go to a hotel.
Don't you get it? I don't
want to be in this building!
It's okay. Really. I just
I just need some time.
Okay?
I'll be at Aunt Vonnie's.
I love you.
Mom,
please don't go.
We need you.
I'm not leaving you two.
Take care of each other, okay?
Okay. That is not what I was
expecting from the breaking
and entering case on
my docket this morning.
I commend you all for telling
the truth, to each other and to me.
I think, given the circumstances,
that six months of probation
and 30 hours of community
service is appropriate.
This court is adjourned.
Good luck, Jessie.
(LIGHT UPBEAT MUSIC)
Oh! Honey! Oh!
- Thank you for helping us.
- It was all you and Jessie.
- No, I, I
- (CHUCKLING)
- I mean it.
- I would've been so nervous.
- I'm glad you told the truth.
- Me too.
I think.
Is uh, your mom coming home?
Not yet.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(JESSIE): I can't believe it.
(KARA): Man, am I proud of you.
(SOFT MUSIC)
- You've been out early.
- Community service.
I am so good at picking up trash now.
- (DOMINIC CHUCKLES)
- I bet!
You want a croissant?
I got them for my, for
uh uh Fern and Will.
Um, there's chocolate,
almond, and regular.
I'm more of a doughnut person.
Right. I should know that.
I would know that
I mean, you probably
don't wanna hear this,
but you do actually remind me
of myself when I was your age.
More so than Will and Fern.
They're trying so hard
to be different from me.
Do you, um, sneeze after
drinking cold water?
- Yeah! I think I do.
- (JESSIE CHUCKLES)
Is that a genetic thing?
Apparently. Do you like cilantro?
No. No, it tastes like soap.
- Totally.
- (ELEVATOR DINGS)
We don't seem to have
any more Neanderthal genes
- than most people do.
- Oh, that's too bad.
I hear Neanderthals
are making a comeback.
They got a bad rap.
Um, did you love my mom?
No.
I mean, I liked her.
And I'm really
glad you're here.
And Will loves you.
I mean, not like that, hopefully.
But it's good to have a sibling, right?
Someone to share a history with.
You won't have to be the sister
who organizes Thanksgiving
when you grow up, because
Fern's totally got that handled.
My mom and I were talking,
and we think we should move.
It might be easier for Andrea
to come back, if we're not here.
No, you shouldn't have to do that.
This is your home.
I'm working really hard to
try to make this all better.
Mm good luck with that.
I will take an apology croissant.
Oh, okay.
(JESSIE CHUCKLES)
Thank you.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Thanks for coming.
I wasn't sure you would.
I wanted to see you, so much. I just
I wasn't sure that you'd want to see me.
I was pretty mad.
No milk, no sugar.
Is that still right?
It's my job to get
people to see the things
that they know on an unconscious level.
I mean, I just totally failed at it.
- It's embarrassing.
- (SCOFFS): No.
I mean, maybe I did know in some way.
My brain said, "Something's wrong here."
And it was a thorn in my marriage.
Which was already shaky,
because he was right.
I was completely besotted with Fern.
And then with Will, I had no
emotional energy left for him.
Okay, you can't
you can't blame yourself for that.
I don't.
I I pulled away from you.
And I know that you felt that.
It was so confusing.
We both had little kids.
- I thought we would help each other.
- (SIGHS) Yeah.
I just
I felt so ashamed.
And I wanted to pretend
that Jessie wasn't a result
of my betraying my friend
and it wasn't true, and
it felt easier to let our friendship die
than to spend time with you.
God, that makes me so sad.
Me too.
I'm looking for another place to live,
so you can come back from your sister's.
That's what Dominic said.
That's why I wanted to talk.
(EMOTIONAL MUSIC)
I'm not over it.
It's gonna take some time.
But I want what's best for my family.
And I don't think you should go.
(THIEVING DREAMS BY BEBE WOOD)
- You okay, buddy?
- Yeah, I'm good.
Uh, did you get the scoop?
- Uh, no.
- Okay, so,
you show the front cover,
read the back cover aloud,
and then everyone has to
write a made-up first sentence,
trying to trick everyone into
thinking it's the real one.
Oh. Okay.
It's hard to convince my mom,
she's scary good at guessing.
I think we've established
that that is not true.
It's totally true. Okay, I'll go first.
Oh, check out that duke.
Think there's a secret baby in it?
- (ANDREA): Fern.
- (CHUCKLING)
Oh, don't we have sprinkles?
Oh, right, sprinkles.
(KARA): All right.
Okay, we have vanilla,
mint chip, and butter pecan.
- Who wants what?
- Mint chip, please!
- Tastes like toothpaste.
- Which makes it the best flavour.
Wait, you put sprinkles on mint chip?
Only chocolate ones.
Butter pecan for me.
Vanilla, for me. No sprinkles.
I like to keep it simple.
Yep. Same for me.
Okay, we have chocolate and
the disgusting rainbow ones.
- (BOTH): They're not disgusting!
- (ALL THREE): Jinx. Jinx!
(LAUGHING)
(♪♪)
(SIRENS WAILING)
Okay. (SIGHS)
All right, the lawyer said to meet him
at Courtroom 3, right?
Okay, um, this is Courtroom 3.
Are we in the wrong
place, or is he late?
Ten minutes is kind of late, right?
You notice everyone
seems to have a dad here?
Okay, you don't know that they're dads.
Moms can protect kids, too.
All right? That's not just a man's job.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Sorry.
Sorry, I'm just scared, okay?
- I know I messed up.
- It's okay.
We're gonna fix it. It's
my fault that you're here.
Where's that lawyer?
(TENSE INTRIGUING MUSIC)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(PANTING)
(GRUNTING)
Please, not again.
So, the MRI showed some
micro-scale injuries,
little tiny tears.
And this is your second ACL injury,
which is why we did the blood test.
You have a mutation in the
collagen type 1 alpha 1 gene,
which means you don't make as
much collagen as everyone else.
Please don't tell me I
have to quit cross-country.
I'm sorry to say that
running might not be for you.
But it's how I get my energy out!
And I have a lot of extra energy.
You'll have to find another way.
And this'll heal, it just takes time.
Okay?
I'll renew your PT prescription.
Thank you.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
So I'm officially a mutant.
Did my father have this collagen thing?
Oh, I don't know, because
sperm banks didn't have
that type of information back then.
And he wasn't your father,
okay? He was an anonymous donor.
What if I have hemophilia?
Like what if what if he's a Romanov!
(CHUCKLES)
You don't have hemophilia,
honey, and he wasn't a Romanov.
No. You don't know that!
You don't know anything!
I don't know why you would
do something so reckless
with my life!
(DOOR OPENS)
We turned in our essays a week ago
and she hasn't even read them yet.
What is it about your teacher's
feedback that you need right away?
Everything! It determines our grades.
It sounds like you're
impatient to know that grade.
No, you just want Ms.
Parker to praise you.
"Excellent word choice, Will."
That's not true. I just think
(ELEVATOR DINGS) we
turned them in on time,
she should read them.
If you feel good about the work you did,
why do you need her validation?
Can you just stop being
a shrink for a minute
and just be my mom?
Do you have to hold the door?
Can you just try to be civil?
Oh, come on!
- Help me grab that.
- I got it.
(WHISPERS): Why does
Jessie's mom bug you so much?
- You used to be friends.
- Don't remind me.
- What'd the doctor say?
- That I'm defective.
- But we already knew that.
- Uh, nobody is defective
and um Will, thank
you for helping us.
- Yeah.
- (KARA): You're very sweet.
- I'm sorry.
- (DOMINIC): Oh, please.
Okay.
Thanks.
- Hey, Fern.
- Hi.
- Hey.
- (BUTTON CLICKS)
(ELEVATOR DOORS CLOSES)
Uh, what'd you get for dinner?
- The good dumplings
- Ah.
from that place around the corner.
We're gonna play a game
after, where you have to
make up the first line of a book,
and then everyone guesses
which one is the real one.
It's exactly as uncool as it sounds.
(JESSIE CHUCKLES) Wanna come play?
Fern, I'm sure they're busy.
Yeah, yeah. I've got a
lot of homework to do.
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
What time is my next PT appointment?
Thursday after school.
It was really nice of
Will to help us out.
Is there anything between you two?
What? No! Mom!
I've known him my whole life.
I would never think of him that way.
You just described the plot
to every John Hughes film.
Who's John Hughes?
(KARA SIGHS)
I'm not
- not to be over-protective.
- But you are.
It's just
Honey, I had boyfriends
too young, and I regret it.
And you and Will have
such a nice friendship.
It would be a mistake to risk that.
I'm not! I don't know
why you think I am!
Because I see the way
that he looks at you.
Oh, stop.
Ew.
Jessie?
Um
one one second.
- Can I come in?
- One second, please.
Just one (DOOR OPENS)
I thought you might wanna ice
Is that a DNA kit?
Um maybe.
Okay.
I I just wanted to know more.
I thought maybe, you know, um,
the donor took one and
registered to be contacted.
What
is your dream outcome with this?
Well, um, I guess if he did register,
that would mean he was
okay with being found,
and maybe I could meet him,
and maybe I have a
whole family somewhere.
You know they wouldn't
really be your family, right?
Why do you assume they
would just reject me?
No. No, no, honey. No.
I I don't think that.
You're wonderful.
I just
I just wish
that I were enough for you.
- Mom, don't!
- I know, I know,
I'm supposed to be the grown up here
and not show my feelings, I just
Oh, God. It is hard.
I'm not trying to hurt you. I
I just wish I knew something
about the other half of me.
Okay.
Why don't we
go to the source.
I'll call the cryobank,
see what they can tell
me about the donor.
Maybe they know more
now than they knew then.
Really?
Yeah.
- Oh God.
- Thank you!
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
Sorry. I thought this would fit.
Did you take the test?
Yep, and now I'm about to throw it away.
No! Why?
'Cause I can't hurt my mom.
Yeah, but it's just medical information.
Why shouldn't you know it?
Because she came in
while I was doing it,
and you should've seen her face.
Like parents having feelings,
it's so messy.
But still.
No. No, you don't understand
because you have the perfect family.
They're not perfect!
I mean, my dad represents criminals,
and my mom treats me like
I'm one of her patients.
And you know, Fern
actually needs a shrink.
My mom could write a
whole textbook about her.
Hm, well, maybe she can
write one about us next.
Do you know how hard it was
to get all this spit out?
(CHUCKLING)
(SIGHS)
Bye, Dad.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Honey, there's something
that I need to tell you
before the lawyer gets here.
I still don't understand
what he's gonna say.
I mean, I did it.
Okay, that's what I
wanna talk to you about.
- Kara.
- I
Jessie.
I want to represent Jessie.
I figured out a great defence.
We we have a defence.
Has Jessie signed off on it?
- We were
- Signed off on what?
just about to talk about it.
May I?
(DOMINIC CLEARS THROAT)
Jessie really matters to
Will, and he feels responsible.
He wants me to help.
You don't have to do this.
We have a lawyer.
Yeah. Uh, I know him,
and I'm way better.
Let me help you. I'll do it for free.
No, I'm fine. I can afford it.
Wait, no, no, no. It's my decision.
How bad is he?
Honestly?
I wouldn't let him defend
me for a parking ticket.
(TENSE INTRIGUING MUSIC)
- (DOOR OPENS)
- (HEAVY EXHALE)
Hi. Oh.
Hi.
You're doing your exercises.
That's good.
Um (SIGHS)
can I talk to you for a minute?
What's up?
Well,
I called the cryobank today.
And?
I have some bad news.
The donor died.
Died?
It wasn't anything genetic.
It was a car accident, years ago.
I'm so sorry.
"Current occupation: Library assistant
and swimming instructor." This is him?
He was in college.
Those are college jobs.
He joked about his excellent teeth.
Why haven't you shown me this?
I-I must've seen it
years ago and lost it,
and they just sent me another copy.
Do you know his name?
Was there a news story
about his accident?
No. I mean,
not that I know of, no.
His older brother was
a competitive skier.
Do you know his name?
No. No, I I just wanted you.
The expectation was that we
would never know each other,
never know who the other one was.
And now I'll never know him!
- Jessie, please.
- I just need a minute, okay?
- With my dead father.
- Oh, God.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(LIGHT POP MUSIC PLAYING)
Apparently, he wore blue sweaters
to both of his sperm bank interviews.
Why does that make my heart hurt?
Why couldn't I have just had
a dad, like everyone else?
Not everyone.
I mean, there's like six kids
in our grade with two moms.
It's like I found him and
lost him on the same day.
Like, why would she do that to me?
I mean, if she hadn't used a sperm donor
then you wouldn't exist.
And the world would be way less
interesting without you in it.
You don't have to like,
try and make me feel better.
I'm not. I I mean it.
I was just really hoping
he was out there somewhere.
- And he's not.
- (EXHALES) Yeah.
(LIGHT POP MUSIC CONTINUES)
- Thank you.
- (DOOR OPENS)
Hey guys? I oh.
Um, I was just, uh, sorry,
she was she was feeling sad.
Oh. Yeah.
Um, dinner's ready. So
- Can Will stay for dinner?
- I
Fern's at orchestra rehearsal
and my mom's working late.
But it's fine if you don't have enough.
Of course we do. I
why don't you two set the
table and I'll be right back.
(KNOCKING)
- Hey.
- Hi. Um
Jessie invited Will for
dinner. Is that okay?
- That's great, actually.
- Oh. Good.
Andrea's out, and I'm working on a brief
- and eatin' potato chips.
- (CHUCKLES)
Could I come in for a minute?
Uh, yeah.
Thank you.
Thanks. I
Listen, I wanted to talk,
because I know Jessie acts so confident,
but she's
young for her age and kind of fragile.
Fragile? (CHUCKLES) Jessie?
I'm just worried that
her longing for a dad
is gonna make her jump
into a romance prematurely.
And I can see that
Will really likes her.
Don't worry, he knows all
about asking for consent
- to do anything.
- But still, I
I mean, I was 14 the first
time I made out with someone.
You probably were too.
Uh, younger, actually.
But I don't think that's a good thing.
My parents weren't paying
attention to anything.
I don't know how to put this,
but I doubt you have to worry
about Jessie being under-protected.
Right.
Listen, thanks for feeding Will.
Yeah. Uh, sure.
- I'm up to my eyeballs.
- (DOMINIC CLEARS THROAT)
Yeah. Um, right.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
Okay.
(PHONE RINGING)
Reproductive Strategies.
Uh, hi! Uh, this is Kara Harrison,
we spoke yesterday.
Um, I was so shocked
to hear the sperm donor
I used in 2008 had died.
And now I was wondering if you
had any information about his family?
Because my teenager took one
of those at-home DNA tests,
so she might end up tracking them down.
I I completely understand
if they don't want to meet her.
But, um, if they did want to meet,
I think my daughter
would really love that.
I'm sorry, who did you speak to?
Uh, I I don't remember.
Someone there.
And what kind of information
were you looking for?
A name? A last known address?
Oh, I couldn't give you
anything like that, even if I had it.
Okay, well, someone there
told me my donor had died,
so I'm just following up.
I'm sorry, I don't
know who told you that,
but I really can't help
you. (PHONE RINGING)
- Wait, but I
- I hope your daughter finds
what she's looking for.
Okay, thank you.
Have a nice day.
That woman was lying. Why?
I mean, she gave this to my mom.
Someone on a thread
about donor-conceived kids
said all the companies
just lost their records
after a bunch of lawsuits.
Well, just look up the
company name and lawsuits.
(WASHER BUZZES)
Will you do it? It makes me too nervous.
(TYPING)
"Woman alleges that sperm bank
negligence caused genetic disorder."
- What?
- "Sperm donor, felon,
claimed to have master's degree."
I mean, why not just
say that he had a PhD?
Maybe one of those guys was my dad!
That seems unlikely.
I mean, even if it was, your
mom bought this vial, right?
But most of your genes could
have still come from her.
It's a total grab bag, what
actually ends up in your genotype.
But these guys are in the mix.
They're a possibility.
I need to find out what
year those happened.
(KNOCKING)
Hi. Is Jessie here?
No. Will said he was studying with her.
- I called her phone.
- It went straight to voicemail,
and then I tried to track
it and it said this address
was her last location,
but she's not here.
Okay. I'll try Will's.
Thank you.
- (PHONE RINGING TONE)
- (SIGHS)
(JESSIE): Hi.
Hi.
Will, wake up.
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
What time is it?
You cannot just disappear like that!
- You scared me to death!
- We fell asleep studying!
In the laundry room? In the dark?
The lights are on a timer! And it
was the only place that was quiet,
cause Fern was playing her stupid oboe.
I was not! And they know I wasn't!
All right, listen,
they were just studying.
Let's get some sleep and we
can talk about it tomorrow.
No, I, I
Will is to have no more
contact with Jessie!
Um, hi, sorry.
Have any of you seen Romeo and Juliet?
- I'm serious!
- Mom, he's my friend!
We weren't having sex
on the washing machines!
(YELLING): No more contact!
I
I would like you to please respect
my wishes as Jessie's mom.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Let's go.
Hm.
Will! Wait!
My parents are super freaked out.
I'm not supposed to be near you.
My mom overreacts. You know that.
Yeah, that's what they're afraid of.
Listen! I have a plan
and I need your help tonight.
What kind of plan?
A really good one!
And it needs your help!
(THRILLING MUSIC)
Hm?
Okay.
(CHUCKLES): Trust me.
(CLINIC SECRETARY):
There's always demand.
Yes, even more so lately.
I think people are just
rethinking their priorities.
Yes, you can just come in.
We're really grateful for your interest.
I can send you the
application. Thank you so much.
Okay. Bye.
Hi! I
I would like to, um, donate.
Okay how old are you?
Eighteen.
Eighteen.
Can I see some ID?
Yeah.
(♪♪)
Oh!
I forgot my wallet.
Right.
I appreciate your interest
but there are less
complicated ways to make money.
- I promise.
- No, I-I
I really just want to help people.
Okay. Uh, tell you what then,
you come back when you're older
and we'll get it all started.
- Okay? I gotta close up now.
- Okay.
Um, all right, can I just
get one of those brochures?
- Sure.
- So I can plan.
You bet.
(THRILLING MUSIC CONTINUES)
- Here you go.
- Thank you so much.
Psst.
It's really serious in there.
Okay, so?
Will! I love you.
But she might have noticed.
They could change the codes.
I just
I don't I don't know
if this is a good idea.
- (SIGHS)
- (DOOR BEEPS)
I'm just leaving now.
- I'll be home in half an hour.
- That's her.
You don't have to go
in if you don't want to.
I could go in alone.
- (CAR STARTING)
- No.
No, I'm in.
Okay. Let's go.
(DOOR BEEPS)
Over here.
(DOOR BEEPS)
(DOOR BEEPS)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
(DOOR BEEPS)
(MACHINES HUMMING)
That's where my dad lived.
With all the other
frosty little swimmers.
Oh, computer.
They've got to catalogue
all the donations, right?
So, uh, I just gotta hope their
records go back far enough.
Well, I'm guessing it's not "password."
Let's see. (BEEPS)
Nope. "Sperm123"?
My mom keeps hers on a tiny
sticky note inside of her desk.
That's a terrible place
to keep a password.
Ah! No way.
It was meant to be! Okay, um
file number 387bx.
(BEEPS)
- Nothing.
- Uh, maybe your mom's name?
(BEEPS)
Nothing.
Um, did she have a maiden name?
- Obviously not.
- And ew, "maiden." Um
You try. What am I not thinking of?
They have porn on here.
I guess it's for the donors.
They have a whole
folder called "Nurses."
Oh my god, close that!
Here's 2004 to 2007.
But none of these file numbers
even match the format of your mom's.
Like, these don't even
have letters in them.
Can you open one?
(SOFT MUSIC)
Okay um, do you do you think that
maybe your mom just made this profile
- to have something to show you?
- No.
Because the cryobank
didn't have anything
- and you needed to see something.
- No!
- I mean, just like think about it for a minute.
- No, no! Stop! Stop it!
- This place lies to people!
- What are you doing?
Jessie, stop! No, don't
touch that! It's too cold.
It ruins their lives.
Jessie, don't don't do this.
Hello, sir.
May you never have a child who
has no idea who her father is.
- No, Jessie, don't.
- (JESSIE SOBS)
This could be a guy having
cancer treatment, or who died!
This could be someone's last
chance at having their kid!
(SNIFFLES)
(HEAVY EXHALE)
(BROKEN WHISPER): I
just wanted to find him.
I know.
He's not here.
He isn't.
Thanks for coming with me.
It was really brave of you.
I'm only brave with you.
(SOFT MUSIC)
(MUSIC FADING)
There's a silent alarm. We have to go!
(TENSE MUSIC)
Ah! Oh, my knee.
You okay?
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Come on.
I'm turning myself in. You have to run.
I'll never make it with my knee.
- No, I'm not leaving you.
- Please go. I got you into this.
There's no point in both
of us getting in trouble.
Go! Run!
(INDISTINCT RADIO COMMUNICATION)
I'm here.
- (CAR DOOR CLOSES)
- I give up.
(DOOR BUZZES)
What were you thinking?
Breaking and entering? That is a felony!
- You made me do it!
- I made you break into a sperm bank?
- You made that profile!
- (DOOR BUZZING OUTSIDE)
- (KARA SIGHS)
- I knew it.
I made it.
I made it because I needed
to show you something.
You'd become so fixated on
finding out who the donor was.
- So it was all made up?
- No. No. I
I tried to remember what I could.
I just
I wanted to give you something tangible
so that you could move on.
So you lied to me.
And not some some
casual, spontaneous lie.
You practically wrote an entire novel.
The blue sweaters?
- The skiing brother?
- It was wrong.
Is he even dead?
Please tell me the truth.
I don't know how to believe
anything you're saying!
(DOOR BUZZES)
Once you sign her out, you can go,
and you'll get a notice
to appear in court.
I made up the part about him being dead.
I'm sorry.
Let's go home.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Hi! Hi.
- Kara. Hi.
- Um, do you have a minute?
Uh, a minute, yeah.
I mean, I have to go to work.
I, um
- Jessie was arrested last night.
- For what?
- She broke into a sperm bank.
- Wait, what?
She's gotten so obsessed
with who her father was.
Who the donor was.
Constantly asking questions.
And I told her that I
used a particular cryobank.
I'm sorry, I'm I'm not following you.
(DISTANT DOG BARKING)
(DISTANT CAR HONKING)
You know that thing
that happened between us.
That we agreed to leave behind us.
Yes, but we didn't
really leave it behind us.
Jessie is your kid.
- What?
- She's been charged with breaking and entering.
I told a lawyer everything,
and we agree that our best
defence is to tell the truth.
I'll testify that I
created this outsized
curiosity in Jessie by lying
to her about the sperm bank,
keeping the secret
about who her father was.
But I have to tell her the
truth before the hearing.
It happened one time.
You you said you did IVF.
Because Andrea was my
friend and I needed a story.
- Why didn't you tell me?
- I should have.
I just I wanted a baby so much
and my doctors told
me I couldn't have one.
So when I got pregnant, I
thought this was my only chance.
I just (KARA SIGHS)
- (SIGHS)
- I didn't want to complicate your life,
or Andrea's, by telling you.
Then why did you stay here?
Why didn't you move?
Because I live in a
rent-stabilized apartment.
I had no money.
I had nowhere else to go! And I
I think that
I think I thought it might be
comforting to have you nearby.
That's why you were so
worried about the kids.
Well, the truth will
solve that problem too.
And now I don't have to
keep up this insane dance
trying to keep them apart.
I'm so stupid.
I couldn't figure out
what your problem was.
I thought that the kids
would feel like siblings,
growing up next door to each other.
I never expected him to fall for her.
I never expect her to be so obsessed.
This is my fault, okay?
But I have to tell
the truth now and I
I'm
(EXHALES) I just wanted
to tell you first.
(SIGHS)
How am I gonna tell Andrea?
We have a lawyer.
You don't have to do us any favours.
And Will shouldn't feel guilty.
I mean, I told him to leave.
I'm glad they didn't charge
him. That's what I wanted.
Can I talk to your mom a sec?
Why? It's my case.
Jessie, honey, do you have
to question everything?
Please just give us a minute. Please.
(INDISTINCT BACKGROUND CHATTER)
- You haven't told her yet?
- I was about to, when you showed up.
You haven't told Andrea?
I tried, but I couldn't do it.
Just listen, here's the defence.
- She broke into snoop.
- Mm-hmm.
That was her only intention,
which would make it
trespassing, it's a misdemeanour.
Plus, Andrea will testify
that Jessie has
obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Why would she do that?
She could lose her license.
I talked her into it.
It might actually be true.
Anyway, it's a mitigating factor.
I, I
our lawyer said that
this judge is tough.
So why do you want to
risk a felony conviction?
Because this is my fault
and I need the court to know that!
You haven't told her the truth yet
because you don't really want to.
- Well
- I can't tell Andrea, either.
I tried, but my marriage
won't survive it.
I'm begging you not
to blow up my family.
We've kept the secret this long.
What about the kids? This romance?
I'll help you discourage it.
I just wish that we could go
back to things the way they were.
I'll ask for a continuance
to give us time to prepare.
- Okay.
- Okay?
Yeah.
Jessie?
I think that Dominic has a good plan.
- What kind of plan?
- It's a two-part defence.
Wait, wait. What
what were you going to
tell me before he showed up?
That I love you, and I'm
behind you all the way.
- That wasn't it.
- No.
That was it and it's true.
Are you okay with Dominic defending you?
Okay, sure.
You seem to have already decided.
Will? (KNOCKING)
I need to talk to you.
Um, right, I need to talk to you, too.
I don't know what's going
on with my mom and your dad.
They have some weird
defence that I have OCD.
And they think it's better than
what the other lawyer planned,
but now my mom won't even
tell me what that was.
And I just wanted to tell you
the only thing that makes
sense in my life is you.
Um, right.
I like you, too.
No, no, no. Like I really like you
and I'm sorry we got
interrupted by that stupid alarm,
because I really wanted to kiss you.
- And I still do.
- Um.
I was (OBJECTS CLATTERING)
I was just about to text you.
Um Will, this is like a moment.
- Don't leave me hangin'.
- I'm not.
I'm not. I mean
- we can't.
- Why? Are you afraid?
- I consent!
- No, no, it's not that.
It's uh, I know I
know who your father is.
You do? How?
Because he's my father.
What?
No, no. There has to
be some kinda mistake.
There's there's no mistake.
Remember you threw your
DNA test in the trash chute?
- Yeah.
- Well, it didn't, uh,
it didn't stay there. I found the tube.
I mailed it in, with your
name and a new email address.
I just wanted to help
figure out the mystery. I
It seemed unfair that your mom
wouldn't let you figure it out.
What about the test?
Yeah.
(AMUSING MUSIC)
I took one a year ago
for a biology project.
And we share like a quarter of our DNA.
- Which means that
- (JESSIE SIGHS)
my dad is your dad.
So it wasn't that my
mom's feelings were hurt.
(SCOFFS)
No.
It was because he was next door.
(KARA): I didn't know what else to do.
(JESSIE): You lied to me my whole life!
You have to see why I did that.
I don't!
I just wanted to give you
a simple, happy childhood.
I wanted them to have
their family, undisrupted.
- Oh, and how is that working out?
- (SIGHS)
(WILL): Why didn't you tell us?
I didn't know. I just found out.
You knew that you slept with Kara,
nine months before Jessie was born.
Yeah, it's pretty basic math.
Kara said she did IVF, okay?
And there was a lot going on back then.
It I was trying to
start my law practice.
Fern was two.
So mom's taking care of a two-year-old,
and you're sleeping with Oh my
Was Mom pregnant with Will?
(EXHALES) Maybe.
But we didn't know yet.
And it was one time,
after too many drinks.
We were all friends.
Yeah, and now Mom and Kara
aren't friends. And it's your fault.
- Okay, your mom doesn't know about any of this.
- Well, we have to tell her.
- (DOOR OPENS)
- It's not fair.
Hey, guys.
Did you find Kara and
Jessie at the courthouse?
- Yeah.
- How'd it go?
Mom, I think you should sit down.
(CLEARS THROAT) Just
just give me a second, okay?
What's going on?
(KARA): Jessie, I am
not proud of any of this.
But I am
so proud of you.
And without my admittedly bad mistakes,
you wouldn't be here.
So I can't regret them.
(CRYING): I just did
the best that I could.
(SOBS, SNIFFLES)
I love you.
(ANDREA): Oh, I knew
something was wrong, back then.
I knew it.
Why'd you do it?
I don't know.
I don't know. I, I
(SIGHS) I think maybe
you were so preoccupied
with Fern and I just
it didn't feel like
there was any room for me.
I'd been feeding her from my body!
I never slept! How was I
supposed to not be occupied?
I'm not saying it as an excuse,
I'm just trying to tell
you where my head was.
Where your head was?
(DRY CHUCKLE) Yeah.
Please, Andrea.
I just want to make this right.
I know you always wanna keep
your patients' families together.
You're not my patient, Dominic.
(SOFT MUSIC)
Listen, guys.
This has nothing to do with you, okay?
I'm just gonna go to
my sister's for a while
and I'll call you really soon.
Shouldn't Dad leave?
He's the one who screwed up.
That's true. I can go to a hotel.
Don't you get it? I don't
want to be in this building!
It's okay. Really. I just
I just need some time.
Okay?
I'll be at Aunt Vonnie's.
I love you.
Mom,
please don't go.
We need you.
I'm not leaving you two.
Take care of each other, okay?
Okay. That is not what I was
expecting from the breaking
and entering case on
my docket this morning.
I commend you all for telling
the truth, to each other and to me.
I think, given the circumstances,
that six months of probation
and 30 hours of community
service is appropriate.
This court is adjourned.
Good luck, Jessie.
(LIGHT UPBEAT MUSIC)
Oh! Honey! Oh!
- Thank you for helping us.
- It was all you and Jessie.
- No, I, I
- (CHUCKLING)
- I mean it.
- I would've been so nervous.
- I'm glad you told the truth.
- Me too.
I think.
Is uh, your mom coming home?
Not yet.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(JESSIE): I can't believe it.
(KARA): Man, am I proud of you.
(SOFT MUSIC)
- You've been out early.
- Community service.
I am so good at picking up trash now.
- (DOMINIC CHUCKLES)
- I bet!
You want a croissant?
I got them for my, for
uh uh Fern and Will.
Um, there's chocolate,
almond, and regular.
I'm more of a doughnut person.
Right. I should know that.
I would know that
I mean, you probably
don't wanna hear this,
but you do actually remind me
of myself when I was your age.
More so than Will and Fern.
They're trying so hard
to be different from me.
Do you, um, sneeze after
drinking cold water?
- Yeah! I think I do.
- (JESSIE CHUCKLES)
Is that a genetic thing?
Apparently. Do you like cilantro?
No. No, it tastes like soap.
- Totally.
- (ELEVATOR DINGS)
We don't seem to have
any more Neanderthal genes
- than most people do.
- Oh, that's too bad.
I hear Neanderthals
are making a comeback.
They got a bad rap.
Um, did you love my mom?
No.
I mean, I liked her.
And I'm really
glad you're here.
And Will loves you.
I mean, not like that, hopefully.
But it's good to have a sibling, right?
Someone to share a history with.
You won't have to be the sister
who organizes Thanksgiving
when you grow up, because
Fern's totally got that handled.
My mom and I were talking,
and we think we should move.
It might be easier for Andrea
to come back, if we're not here.
No, you shouldn't have to do that.
This is your home.
I'm working really hard to
try to make this all better.
Mm good luck with that.
I will take an apology croissant.
Oh, okay.
(JESSIE CHUCKLES)
Thank you.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Thanks for coming.
I wasn't sure you would.
I wanted to see you, so much. I just
I wasn't sure that you'd want to see me.
I was pretty mad.
No milk, no sugar.
Is that still right?
It's my job to get
people to see the things
that they know on an unconscious level.
I mean, I just totally failed at it.
- It's embarrassing.
- (SCOFFS): No.
I mean, maybe I did know in some way.
My brain said, "Something's wrong here."
And it was a thorn in my marriage.
Which was already shaky,
because he was right.
I was completely besotted with Fern.
And then with Will, I had no
emotional energy left for him.
Okay, you can't
you can't blame yourself for that.
I don't.
I I pulled away from you.
And I know that you felt that.
It was so confusing.
We both had little kids.
- I thought we would help each other.
- (SIGHS) Yeah.
I just
I felt so ashamed.
And I wanted to pretend
that Jessie wasn't a result
of my betraying my friend
and it wasn't true, and
it felt easier to let our friendship die
than to spend time with you.
God, that makes me so sad.
Me too.
I'm looking for another place to live,
so you can come back from your sister's.
That's what Dominic said.
That's why I wanted to talk.
(EMOTIONAL MUSIC)
I'm not over it.
It's gonna take some time.
But I want what's best for my family.
And I don't think you should go.
(THIEVING DREAMS BY BEBE WOOD)
- You okay, buddy?
- Yeah, I'm good.
Uh, did you get the scoop?
- Uh, no.
- Okay, so,
you show the front cover,
read the back cover aloud,
and then everyone has to
write a made-up first sentence,
trying to trick everyone into
thinking it's the real one.
Oh. Okay.
It's hard to convince my mom,
she's scary good at guessing.
I think we've established
that that is not true.
It's totally true. Okay, I'll go first.
Oh, check out that duke.
Think there's a secret baby in it?
- (ANDREA): Fern.
- (CHUCKLING)
Oh, don't we have sprinkles?
Oh, right, sprinkles.
(KARA): All right.
Okay, we have vanilla,
mint chip, and butter pecan.
- Who wants what?
- Mint chip, please!
- Tastes like toothpaste.
- Which makes it the best flavour.
Wait, you put sprinkles on mint chip?
Only chocolate ones.
Butter pecan for me.
Vanilla, for me. No sprinkles.
I like to keep it simple.
Yep. Same for me.
Okay, we have chocolate and
the disgusting rainbow ones.
- (BOTH): They're not disgusting!
- (ALL THREE): Jinx. Jinx!
(LAUGHING)
(♪♪)