We had a deal, William. Hiring was my responsibility and you went around me. You knew that I would object to his research, his attitude and ultimately his hiring.
WWilliam
I was aware that you might object to some of his research, yes. Okay, would object. But he became available, there were other people interested, I had to make a decision. Think of the potential, sickle cell, hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, his work has the ability to change the face of medicine as we know it, that's what you and I wanted.
He has no moral center. He supports eugenics. He wants me to help him design a baby.
WWilliam
That's what you do, Naomi! When you weed out for disease. You're afraid of the slippery slope, but you're already on it.
Maybe, but I am not skiing down it.
WWilliam
I'm not asking you to accept him, I'm telling you. Find a way to make it work.
Once we start down the road of choosing characteristics for our children, I don't... I don't know where that ends. It's not something that our practice does. I do want to work with you, I do, but, um...
SSally
[picks up a picture of Naomi's daughter] Your daughter?
SSally
[sits down next to Curtis] She's very pretty, she looks just like you.
Thank you, you know I... I never really see the resemblance, but...
SSally
Of course you don't, you take it for granted having a child that looks like you. But what if someone told you you couldn't have your daughter? Your own daughter, who's like you in so many ways.
Even if you don't select for dwarfism, your child will be a part of you.
CCurtis
What do you see when you look at me? It's a hard question for a tall person to answer, because all you see is the dwarf.
SSally
When I look at Curtis, I see an accountant. A husband. And those things are what our friends see. If we have a child who's five ft. ten, they'll look at him the other way people look at us.
CCurtis
What if you had a 50/50 chance of having a white baby? Would you want a white baby?
SSally
It is. You'd love that white baby, but everyday people would question whether she was yours. They'd whisper, like they'll whisper about our tall child. Would you want that for your child?
CCurtis
We're not asking you to clone us, we're just asking what any other parent would come in and ask for.
SSally
We want what you have, how is that crossing a line?
I was fat. As a kid, I... I was fat. I don't mean to suggest that it's comparable, but everyone has their own scars to bear. We all have our insecurities and they're painful and persistent and they're ours. I don't want to compare painful anecdotes with you, I'm just saying that in some small way I do understand.
Naomi: Oh, you know what, it is really hard to avoid using words like 'big' and 'small' and 'short' and 'tall'. We try to say things nicely, but you know the fact of the matter is I wasn't just fat. Fat is the nice word for what I was. I was huge. I was massive. Six summers of fat camp, my whole adolescence being made fun of. I have heard every single joke, lardo and fat-ass, and Dumbo and elephant.
CCurtis
In our group of friends, a tall child will be Lurch or giant or Godzilla.
But if he's healthy, he'll survive it. I did. You did. But I cannot implant a sick embryo, no matter what Dr. Fife promises you about future breakthroughs, I cannot do it. But what I can do is help you to have a healthy baby, and whether's he tall or medium or small, when you hold him in your arms, he will be yours. And you'll love him. Is that all that really matters? That's what I can give you.
