FLAT, UNFATHOMABLE BLACKNESS FADE IN: Light shimmers on the unbroken dark abyss, transforming it into rippling fluid. Through the liquid blackness, bursts DAVID MATHEWS. He surfaces in a circular black pool. Except for a diving board, it looks almost like a small pond. David mounts the board. His precisely trimmed beard drips water. Well into his forties, he has kept his physique and his skill. He snaps into a reverse tuck somersault. The water rushes up at him as he plunges into a perfect, splash-free entry. He bounces lightly on the edge of the board, then flies high and does a perfect swan dive. He swings easily out of the pool. He looks at an intercom at poolside and turns up the volume, turning towards his Tudor home. INT. MATHEWS' HOME - NIGHT Oriental rugs, end tables made of brass trays, and international crafts stand out against a clinical white interior. David catches the door to keep it from banging as ELLEN MATHEWS enters. Ellen is a knock-out flight attendant in her thirties. In full uniform, she wears a choke-tight uniform scarf. The instant she sets foot in the house, she unties the scarf, kicks off her shoes, drops her long, upswept hair, takes off her jacket, and opens the top buttons of her blouse. Suddenly, she is a voluptuous earth mother. David puts his finger to his lips and points to another room. Ellen nods and gives him a quick, wifely kiss. INT. NURSERY - NIGHT David stops Ellen as she gropes for the light switch. He folds his hands and rests his head on them. She nods and tiptoes to the crib, admiring nine-month old JENNIFER in the dim light from the hall. David takes her hand and leads her from the room, stopping her as she starts to reach out to Jennifer. INT. MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT The clock reads "4:00." A flip calendar next to it reads, "APRIL 17, 1983." Ellen takes the phone off the hook. David stirs as she embraces him. She kisses him hungrily, slipping off her nightgown. Sliding her breasts against him, caressing his flesh, she burrows down under the covers. In his half-sleep, he MOANS with pleasure, yielding to her. INT. MASTER BEDROOM - DAY David wakes as Ellen continues to sleep. Drowsy, he stares at the clock. It registers 9:00 a.m. He hurls back the covers. INT. NURSERY - DAY David grasps Jennifer and turns her over. A TUNNEL SOUND SHRIEKS drowning out all other sounds. It is a howl of cries and rushing sighs through which we enter and leave the world. The side of Jennifer's face and body, which had been down, is mottled and appears bruised. David shouts for Ellen. Rushing in, she flinches and startles, then instantly and expertly begins CPR. INT. NURSERY - LATER The shrill of an ambulance SIREN gradually overlays the TUNNEL SOUND. AMBULANCE ATTENDANTS SLAM open the door with the shock of conquering storm troopers. Ellen continues CPR. As the attendants take over, a white haze of light fills the room. SUPER. VORTEX The TUNNEL SOUND HOWLS. We are looking into the funnel of a tornado made of light. INT. MATHEWS' HOME - DAY David carries in her crew bag, as Ellen enters in uniform. As always, he is immaculately groomed and sharply-creased. Corn husks are on the open door, a small pumpkin on the steps. He puts down her bags and indicates the computer. He kisses her lushly, then pulls away, looking at his watch. As he leaves, he grabs his briefcase with his left hand and switches it habitually to his right. Ellen sits at the computer. The plain blue screen flashes to blue with white letters reading, "CHECK NEW DIRECTORY, BABY- OCT.82. OPEN FILE 'CONCEPTION' AND READ DATA. COMPLETE THE TEMPERATURE GRAPH FOR THE DAYS YOU WERE IN OSAKA." The computer screen fills the frame, reading "PROBABILITY OF CONCEPTION 97.766%." INT. AIRLINE OFFICE - DAY Christmas trim surrounds a photographic display of flight attendants with their babies and toddlers. David waits in the b.g. as Ellen turns in her uniform to her SUPERVISOR, an over- groomed, nail filing bitch with an icy smile. She signs papers headed "maternity leave of absence." INT. OB. GYN. OFFICE - DAY David stands back in the corner reading a pamphlet headed "amniocentesis" and nervously biting the fingernails on his left hand. Ellen grips the table as DR. NEALIS inserts a long needle into her rounded abdomen. On the monitor we see the luminous image of the fetus move its hand as if waving hello. Ellen waves back to her baby. David continues nervously reading, hiding behind the pamphlet. Dr. Nealis flips the calendar on the wall and thumps at February 13. INT. OB. GYN. OFFICE - DAY Dr. Nealis is talking seriously to Ellen and David. The wall clock has a date insert that reads "FEB 13." A NURSE enters, handing Dr. Nealis a report. Ellen is jubilant. David smiles faintly. Dr. Nealis hands each of them one side of a double eared stethoscope. David takes it with his left hand and switches it to his right. They listen to the HEARTBEAT. INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT David enters as we hear the HEARTBEAT overlap the sound of a SHOWER RUNNING. From his POV we see candles on the rim of the tub, flickering light across Ellen's curving silhouette, revealing the ripe breasts and belly of a six-month pregnancy. We see Ellen's dewy, blissful face. The HEARTBEAT intensifies. Water streams over her lush swollen breasts. Single drops fall from her hardened nipples. Her hand sensuously slides up her thigh and caresses her rounded stomach. David turns on the light. He reaches for his toothbrush. He pauses, watching, as Ellen steps out of the shower draped in a rainbow striped beach towel that clings provocatively to her swollen breasts and belly. The towel slides down over her breasts, pink from the shower. He turns back to the sink. The towel drops to the floor as she embraces David from the rear and stands on tiptoe to nibble his ear. He closes his eyes struggling with himself, then turns his head from her. The heartbeat stops in a loud, FINAL LUB. As he reaches to turn on the water, she takes a resigned step back. We see David resisting her in the mirror as she kisses his shoulder and leaves. EXT. BRONX ZOO - DAY It is a bright day bursting with opening flowers and budding trees. Ellen has gained forty pounds. David follows her through the petting zoo, lagging dejectedly behind her proud stride. From David's POV we see a baby lamb nursing from its mother. Through his eyes, we see a charming display of peeping chicks, surrounded by tulips and Easter eggs. INT. HOSPITAL - ALTERNATE BIRTHING CENTER - NIGHT A RACING HEARTBEAT is the only sound. David helps Ellen breathe with Lamaze techniques. His coaching is so intense that watching him makes you breathe with him. Through David we see Ellen working deliberately, with fervent concentration, at bringing this child into the world. She is not in pain. The TUNNEL SOUND RISES as the HEARTBEAT FADES. Everything glows white as if seen through a haze of energy. SILENCE. From David's POV, we see Dr. Nealis receive Jennifer and place her naked on Ellen's draped stomach. Ellen shakily balances the squirming child with her hands. We hear the first human sound. Jennifer SIGHS and GURGLES. DR. NEALIS Here ya go Dad. You can cut the umbilical cord. David takes the instrument into his hand. He methodically cuts the cord. Jennifer GURGLES. ELLEN Oh God ... Oh ... Oh ... What a sweet sound ... not even a cry. (beat) Nothing to cry about. Jennifer YAWNS. ELLEN Is it a boy or a girl? NURSE 2 A girl. David speaks with the faintest of tightly controlled stutters. He's half joking. DAVID We could've known that months ago if you got the test results instead of playing with a Ouija board. ELLEN That wouldn't have been any fun. Ellen gently touches and looks at the baby. Jennifer lifts her hand. ELLEN (continuing) That's a hello. See. Hello. Hello, Mama. Look David. She's looking at you. Come closer, Dad. She's so beautiful. David moves closer. DAVID She is beautiful. But, I'm not your "Dad." We agreed we wouldn't do that, remember? ELLEN Yeah. I know. It's just I'm really ready to be "Mommy" now. NURSE 1 is abrupt and militant. She moves towards Jennifer and aggressively raises a small ampule. David steps in protectively and stops her. DAVID Wait! Is that silver nitrate? We have a waiver. NURSE 1 I don't know anything about that. DR. NEALIS Check the pediatrician's notes. (chuckles) Knowing these guys, they got one. Nurse 1 leaves in a huff as Nurse 2 positions a bath. Floating peacefully, the baby opens her eyes and is alert and calm. Ellen reaches out and strokes her head in the water. ELLEN She is so beautiful. (beat) Yes. Oh. Yes. Oh. You are beautiful. Oh, look how she loves the water. A water baby. Oh. Yes. (beat) You're at home there, aren't you? Floating. Floating just like you were inside me. Oh. Her eyes are bright. I think she sees more than we do. Nurse 1 blusters in and administers the cream to the baby in the tub. NURSE 1 This is the erythromycin Dr. Jerome ordered. DAVID Thanks. No stinging eyes for this little one. Our baby looks at them directly. NURSE 1 Well, what did you expect? You people ordered so many special things. Alternate birthing center, non- separation bonding, rooming in, Laboyer bath. You even changed your consent forms. ELLEN Can I nurse her now? DR. NEALIS Sure. It's good for both of you. Ellen sits up slightly, cradling her. Jennifer nuzzles against her, but doesn't nurse. ELLEN She can't seem to find me yet. (laughing) She licked me. It tickles. DAVID Ellen! NURSE 2 It's nothing new. ELLEN How does she even know what to do? Look, she's smiling. DAVID and NURSE 2 (simultaneously) It's just gas. ELLEN That wasn't a burp. Can't you believe we come into the world smiling? DAVID What was her APGAR score? Dr. NEALIS Nine. DAVID Almost perfect. NURSE 2 You're ready to go to your room. I'll take her now. DR. NEALIS (chuckles) Non-separation bonding, remember. INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAYBREAK Ellen is in bed, sleeping. David is thrashing about trying to sleep on a half-deflated air mattress next to the bed. GRANDMA comes in and places a bouquet of flowers on the night stand. She is a butterball of nervous energy. She sits down, gets up, adjusts the covers slightly. Ellen startles and wakes. They whisper to avoid waking David. GRANDMA Sweetheart, did I wake you? ELLEN Mom. I'm glad you're here. They hug warmly. GRANDMA I saw her in the nursery. She's so cute. Just like you, except for her coloring. ELLEN I think her hair will be like mine. GRANDMA No. By that peach fuzz, I'm sure she'll be a red head. And her eyes. Not just blue. Violet! Like Elizabeth Taylor. ELLEN Maybe she'll be an actress. GRANDMA I'm no fortune teller. ELLEN Guess we'll leave that to destiny. GRANDMA Destiny! Now that would be a name for her, as striking as her hair and eyes. Or Violet? ELLEN I, I'm sorry Mom. David, uh, we're naming her Jennifer, after David's Grandmother. GRANDMA That settles that. (fiddles with flowers) Nellie Bell, Nellie Belly. Never did like being called Nellie anyway. ELLEN Thank you, Mama. The flowers are lovely. GRANDMA I'm glad you sent her to the nursery. You need your rest. ELLEN Actually, we both sleep better together. It's nice and snugly. They just took her to do a standard test. GRANDMA Aren't you afraid she'll smother in bed with you? David opens his eyes, alert at once. DAVID Her pediatrician recommended it. A NURSE wheels in Jennifer. Grandma takes her. ELLEN Did we wake you? DAVID I wish you had. That would mean I was asleep. NURSE How's the nursing going? ELLEN Okay I guess. She nursed about five hours straight last night. NURSE She needs the sucking more than the milk. It might help to use a pacifier. DAVID & GRANDMA (simultaneously) A pacifier! INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - DAY David accompanies Ellen as an AIDE pushes her in a wheelchair. She holds Jennifer who is wearing a silly, ruffled little dress which is much too large. AIDE Sorry we have to go this way. The whole system's on the fritz. These're usually just for surgical patients. The doors open revealing TWO ORDERLIES. One is an over-weight young man. Sticking out of his pocket is a key chain with a rabbit's foot. The second is a tall, thin, elderly, black man with steel-gray hair. At his throat is a shiny crucifix. A SLEEPING PATIENT is on a gurney. AIDE Guess we'll wait for the next one. ELLEN It's okay. I really wanna get out of here. INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT David and Ellen avoid the gurney like the plague. The Tall Orderly pushes the button for the seventh floor. The lights indicate a descent past B2 to B3. SHORT ORDERLY Hell! TALL ORDERLY Don't worry. It won't stay stuck here. SHORT ORDERLY I hope. The doors open and close, open and close, revealing brief flashes of the morgue. The CORONER, who looks like a grossly fat butcher, is performing an autopsy on a pitifully thin 10-MONTH OLD BABY. The baby is bruised and battered. We see only the merest glimpse of this. David withdraws as if he had been hit in the stomach. He stares coldly at the elevator lights which move to "7." Ellen protectively clutches her baby. AIDE I'm sorry. We should never have come this way. The Short Orderly strokes nervously at his rabbit's foot. SHORT ORDERLY (sotto voce) Sicko child abusers. DAVID They should shoot people like that.
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