| Ally: I want Maddie to live with me. (pause) Bonnie: Sorry? (pause) Ally: I want her. Bonnie: (smiling) Right. Ally: No, I'm serious. (pause) Bonnie, a child needs her mother home at night, not in Cleveland. Bonnie: First of all, that's not fair. And, second, I am home most nights. I - Ally: Not since your new life took off. Since New Year's you've been working none stop. Bonnie: Eventually, I'll settle into a decent schedule. But, right now - Ally: You're still trying to make it. (pause) I understand. But, i think I can provide a better home for her (pause) And, I want her. Ally: (To Bonnie) Being her genetic mother doesn't make me a parent. I get that. But, it's also not meaningless. That's why so many adoptive kids seek out their adoptive parents. Because it means something. And, it means something to Maddie. She showed up here. (pause) And she did ask me to take her. Maddie: Are you ready for this? Really? Ally: Not only am i ready for this but you just answered my question as to why I'm so ready for this. (pause) You know, I've always had a hole too, Maddie. And, I always thought that it was gonna be filled up with a man. And, yet, I could never picture him. Well, maybe the man turned out to be you. Maybe it's been you. And, I know that this sounds crazy, but it's as if I have always known that you were out there. (pause) It's as if a part of me just knew. (pause) And, now, it just makes so much sense that you're here. (pause) Augh, if you only knew how much money I spent at therapists trying to figure out 'who is that guy'? And, now, it turned out that the guy is a 10 year old girl. (pause) And, she's home. (pause) Maddie: Would I call you mom? (pause) Ally: (smiling) I don't think I've quite earned that. So, why don't we start with - Maddie: Step - thing. Ally: Ally? Maddie: Ally. |