Daily Dialogue — November 26, 2012
Kee writhes in pain, SCREAMS.
THEO: Now just lie there and let your body take over. Get in touch with your body like Miriam said, that thing about tension.
KEE: I can’t!
THEO: You can! Just breathe, breathe like Miriam taught you… relax, and when you feel like it, push!
KEE: I can’t fucking do it!
THEO: Yes you can! Breathe and push!
KEE: Fuck you! It hurts!
THEO: Fuck you! Push! (then) All the women who’ve ever given birth are with you!
Kee pushes — her breath visible in the cold room.
KEE: Fuck all!
THEO: That’s it. Just like that. Keep breathing. Breathe in… breathe out…
Kee clutches Theo’s hands harder — although we can see her breath, she is covered in sweat.
THEO (bending lower): Push! It’s working goddamnit. I think it’s actually working!
Kee pushes with all her might. Theo witnesses this, utterly amazed…
THEO: I can see its head!
Kee screams — excruciating pain — fear. She pushes — the head stretching open the vagina, coming through…
THEO: Push!
Theo holding onto Kee, blown away.
THEO: You’re doing great.
Kee looks up at Theo, her face wet with sweat and tears, a little reassured.
Theo watches: the baby’s blue head emerges completely…
THEO: Keep doing what you’re doing…
Kee pushing — the rest of the baby’s body flowing out in a stream of blood. Theo supporting the emerging infant…
THEO: Here he comes, here he comes. You’re nearly there…
Kee screaming as she taps a reservoir of female strength, giving her body over to the new life coming through it, to life itself, the miracle
KEE: FUCKING GOD!!!
– the baby bursts forth, a bloody explosion of life…
Theo pulling it free, still hooked by the umbilical cord, the placenta spilling out in a bloody finale -
There is a moment, a pause.
For the first time in eighteen years, four months, two days, sixteen hours and eight minutes, a human child has been born.
Theo holds the newborn baby, all blue, covered in white specks, steam rising from the tiny body in the cold room.
KEE: How is he?
But Theo doesn’t answer… he’s stunned, holding the baby… then…
THEO: Actually, it’s a girl.
— Theo (Clive Owen), Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey), Children of Men (2006), screenplay by Alfonso Cuarón & Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby, based on the novel by P.D. James
http://static.movieclips.com/embedplayer.swf?shortid=XWMS
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is giving birth, suggested by blknwite. Today’s suggestion by Teddy Pasternak.
Trivia: Kee’s name is a homophone for “chi” (also can be pronounced CHEE) which means the energy or force of life itself.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary from Teddy: “The dialogue itself is perhaps not that noteworthy but it’s a very important scene in this film. Note the “For the first time in eighteen years…” aside from the writers to indicate the importance of this moment. It invites the reader to exhale after this intense sequence and let this momentous event sink in.”
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