01x01 - La il·lusió

[bunniefuu]

Listen up,
we're starting a new unit today.

Where do we come from?

Does anyone know
where we come from?

- I do!
- Me!

Okay, Jordi.

The dad puts a seed
in the mom, like bees do.

And 9 months later
a baby comes out.

Yes, you could say it like that.
Anyone else?

- Me!
- Me!

Bruna.

It's not like that.
The biologist puts the seed in.

- What?
- Yeah, with a long tube.

It's called insemination.

No! It's called in vitro!

- In vitro, right?
- Well...

I was born in a freezer.

- What?
- I was made by

a very generous stranger
who gave my mom a seed!

I was frozen.
For three years.

I have two moms.

Like a fish!

The gyne...

Hush, let's listen to Ferran.

The gynecologist put the egg
in my other mom's tummy.

No! It's not the gynecologist!
It's the embryologist!

My dad says it's not natural.

They made me
with a man who lives in Denmark.

They made me with a lady
who looked like my mom.

Can they put you
back in the freezer?

What?

How do they look?

Ugly.

- Are they mature?
- Too mature.

Fossilized, basically.

- Fine.
- 'Fine' what?

I'll send them over
and you can explain.

No, Angela, I'm busy...

- Thanks, Hector.
- It's not my job to explain...

The embryologist will go
over the test results with you.

- Perfect.
- Thanks.

Hello, Ginestia Clinic,
how can I help you?

Yes...

Your sperm count is fine:

more than 15 million per milliliter.

Hey, not too bad...

We got only two eggs
from you: one with signs of atresia,

the other one is immature.

What does that mean?

They won't do.

So I injected
all those hormones for nothing?

It cost us a fortune.

Some people spend
a fortune trying to fix a car.

But if the engine's old,
no matter how much you put in...

And that's how you put it?

- It's a pretty accurate metaphor.
- But I don't understand.

- I'm not that old.
- Of course not!

I went to the Primavera Rock Festival
all 3 days in June.

- I toughed it out.
- She did!

Congrats. But a pregnancy
with your ova...

In fact, your body is closer
to menopause than ovulation.

- What?
- Your body isn't up for a baby.

It's starting to
deactivate functions.

It's the natural order.

First your body
turns off reproduction,

then it prepares to die.

Does that answer your question
about why you can't get pregnant?

Very well then.

Have a good day.

What did you say to her?

You can't come in here
without coat and scrub cap.

- That's the third client that...
- Patient.

The third patient
this month complaining and...

No overshoes, either!

If your dad could see you!

Leave my dad out of it.
What did you tell her?

The truth.

Hector, damn it!

They post it all
on social media and TikTok.

They do TikTok!

Why does Angela
keep sending them to me?

I get she's burned out,
but it's her job.

The biologists at other clinics

see the patients and explain
the process nicely and kindly.

My dear Andreu,
I love my job

precisely for not having
to deal with other human beings.

But you can't isolate yourself
like some Dr. Frankenstein!

If you want me to be
a mental coach,

go look for another embryologist.

I'm sure you can find one
with an 80 % success rate.

- That's high, right?
- Very.

Center for Cellular Biology
and Regenerative Medicine.

Day 1,082.
Intermittent bioreactivation trials.

Subject:
preserved human limb.

Let's get to it.

Holy sh*t,
did you see that?

- No.
- It moved.

- Seriously?
- It moved.

Let's see, again.

Hit it again.

- And...?
- No.

We need to maintain
the electric activity.

How can it? With the crap
the tissue bank sends us!

- Come on, Ferran, please.
- Yeah, come on, Ferran!

Come on what?

- Stay positive. We're close.
- Close?


Now trying to move a dead hand.

Not just moving a hand,

but reversing metabolic shutdown
in inert tissue, remember?

Yeah, sure.

We're proving that
cell death isn't final!

- Don't puff!
- But we're stuck in a rut.

No results,
no more funding...

Ferran, we can't give up
at the first obstacle!

The first?

THE BEGINNING
OF A NEW LIFE

I bet he didn't speak to my dad
like that. He doesn't respect me!

I have no clue why.

Angela, you've been here for 50 years.



Wait,
how old are you?

Never mind,
My father founded the clinic,

and you came from your small town
in Galicia with nothing.

No, I had a master's degree
from the US and I was a doctor.

So what do I do?

You and Hector
are passing the buck, I can see it.

He says you're supposed
to deal with the clients... patients !

But you send them to him.
How'd you use to do it back then?

Back then,
people weren't so demanding.

Now they feel so entitled,
think they know it all...

Ah my friend.

That's why you're so burned out.

Says who?

Hector.

Does he?

Just assuming I let him go,

do you think we could find
someone at least as good as him?

No.

But we could put another
embryologist in the lab with him.

To handle patients...

- ...to take some work off his plate.
- Of course, of course.

Would you know anyone?

We're here to celebrate
the sacred act of creation.

Do you have to
do that now?

A new soul on Earth,

fruit of the love
between a man and a woman.

I know speaking of
"mothers and fathers" is risky today.

Now, there are...
"diverse families."

Your sister
is pretty emotional, eh?

Today we present before God
the son of Joan and Paula, Arnau,

to receive
the sacrament of Baptism

to join the great family of Christ.

Paula, Joan...

I baptize you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

She's our cousin, I should be happy.
But I hate her!

I was already jealous
when she had her first.

And then she goes and has a second!
Jealousy became anger.

- It's normal.
- Now I want to k*ll her.

Well now...

I dream of running her over in my car.
Or snapping her neck like a rabbit...

OK, not that normal, Cris...

- It isn't?
- No.

Just look at her,
look at her laughing!

It's her baptism.

She partied all her life!
Had it all, took it all!

Then she gets married
and boom, starts popping them out!

What about me?

I've never even touched a cigarette.

- What did the gynecologist say?
- Same old.

"Relax, don't obsess,

take a vacation..."

It would happen when I least expect it.
But it's been two years...

Have they checked your
ovarian count? I'm sure it's fine but...

Yeah, she said to go to
one of those test tube baby clinics.

It's not exactly like that, Cris.

Blanca, I know you think it's silly,
but for me it's playing God.

And he must already
be mad at me.

Hey...

Think he's punishing me
for my thoughts?

No way! Don't start
feeling bad about that too.

- He's not mad?
- No.

It's normal.

It's not normal.

No idea if
they're testing her right.

But she won't go
to a clinic either.

Your sister and faith,
I swear...

For sure,
the emotional stress isn't helping.

That yellow!
Nothing like a free-range egg!

I mean, it brings on
hypersecretion of cortisol,

prolactin...

I was going just going to bring
that up, the prolactin!

It's a hormone that inhibits ovulation.

I don't know, honey...

What about us?

I don't know, do you think
we're waiting too long?

Well you always said you weren't sure
about bringing a child into this world.

But seeing all our friends
going for it

and your sister
struggling so much...

And she's 3 years
younger than you.

No, honey, I just mean
we're in a good place.

We have jobs we like,
we're accomplished.

Alex, maybe you are.
I'm not.

Just the thought
of taking maternity leave

when my lab is so close
to obtaining results...

You've been trying
to obtain results for 4 years.

Thanks for your support.

No, honey, you know
I really value all you're doing

to bring back the dead.

Dead tissue !

Tissue, tissue.

I'm just saying
time is ticking, that's all.

So, how are the trials going?

They're going okay.

You know how it is,
there's never any funding, it's slow.

Blanca,
you were top of the class.

Thanks, Angela.

And you were
an inspiring professor.

Embryology was one
of my favorites.

Ever thought about
working in the field?

At some point,
during studies but...

Because we're looking
to hire someone for the lab.

- Really?
- Would you be interested?

It's just...
I can't leave the project right now.

We're so close to achieving
something significant, you know?

Blanca...

I know you want
to do meaningful work.

But just think how many people
you'd help by assisted reproduction.

There's nothing grander
than creating life.

Don't you agree?

Sorry, Angela,
I have to let you go.

- What happened?
- I quit, that's what happened.

What do you mean?
Ferran!

f*ck this.

What happened?

It caught fire again.

What about Ferran?

- He quit.
- It's okay, Blanca.

We'll try again, no problem.

We'll find someone else.

Like Marie Curie said,
"Nothing in life is to be feared..."

- I quit too!
- "...It is only to be understood".

What?

THE BEGINNING
OF A NEW LIFE

Can you please confirm
Mariona Tolosa's appointment

for tomorrow afternoon?
- Of course, I'll do it now.

- Hello.
- Hi.

Hi,
I'm Blanca Salvador.

- I'm here to...
- Oh, yes. I'll let Andreu know.

Blanca?

- How are you?
- Fine.

Angela speaks highly of you.

A bright student
and very compassionate.

And that's just what we need.

Did she mention...?

No worries, I know you have no
experience in the field, blah, blah.

But I'm not worried at all.

You can change here
if you like, I won't look.

We're not worried because you'll be
with a great teacher, Hector Vidal.

- Ever heard of him?
- No.

Exactly. Nobody has.

But Angela says he's one
of the top embryologists in Spain.

Good morning, Hector.

Look, this is Blanca,
your new colleague.

- Hi.
- I leave you in good hands.

Nice to meet you, Hector.

I don't know if they told you,
but I'm new to this field.

But I'm highly motivated.
I mean, I'm a quick learner.

If you just tell me...

I mean,
I can get started on whatever...

So...

So I was doing research before.

We worked with protocol
on post-mortem cell bio-reactivation.

You dissected corpses.

You come with a lot of
baggage to make babies.

No, sorry.

Our aim was to show that
cell death is reversible

by re-establishing electrical activity

in preserved human tissue,

with perfusion...
- Mind if I play some music?

- It helps me concentrate.
- Sure, no problem.

I love music.

What do you listen to?
Pop, electronic?

- What?
- Clinical session in 5 minutes.

- OK.
- What's that noise...?

Her name is Gemma Miranda.
She has a radio show.

She's not our first famous journalist.
We've had famous actresses, too.

- Yeah?
- But no names, privacy and all...

- Remember the TV3 series...?
- Andreu.

Yes, sorry.

Gemma is 48 years old,
and her husband is 50.

They've had


the last two with ova donation.
No success.

They're frustrated,
especially her.

She's been through
a long, exhausting process.

She feels deceived
by other clinics and wants us to...

- ...work miracles.
- Hector...

She has no ovarian reserve
and he only has 15 % sperm motility.

Maybe with an embryo donation...

At 48 and with three miscarriages?

Blanca?

- Yes?
- What do you think?

I...

I...

I agree that it's complicated.

A part from the emotional impact
of another failed treatment, right?

Right.

But if she's so determined,
can we refuse her?

She's absolutely determined.

Let's not forget we're here
to fight for our patients' dreams.

Let's leave it here.
Blanca, you talk to them.

- Me?
- And explain their options.

But,
are there any viable options?

There's always some chance.

Above all, convey confidence
and reassurance, okay? Let's go.

Let's go.

Do you think an embryo donation
will increase their chances?

No.

So then...

They might think so
because it's new.

Shouldn't we think about this?

I mean,
if the chances are so low,

hiding the truth seems...
- Look, Raquel...

Blanca.

You know
why you're here?

Angela said your
work load was too big and...

No. You're here to lie.
I just can't, and I scare clients off.

They don't want the truth.

They want to hear it'll all be okay.
And Andreu, too.

Cris.

I can't talk right now.

Sorry,

I know you're at work, but...

Yes.
Let's talk later, okay?

It's terrible!

What's wrong?

- She left the baby with me, Blanca.
- What baby?

Her baby!

Paula had work meetings.
Mayumi couldn't take him and...

What is she doing to me?

- Yeah, what?
- Having another one wasn't enough.

She brought him over
to rub it in my face!

Cris,
you have to relax, dear.

It's normal for her to ask you.
And you're not working.

I look at him and
these thoughts start coming...

Not the rabbit thing, eh, Cris?

What? No, no.

It's just...

I just, I can't even hold him,
or smell him because...

Because it makes me
so sad to think

I'll never have
one of my own and...

Alright.

Calm down.

Claudia.

Calm down, Cris.

- Anna?
- Blanca!

- I have to go, honey.
- No, Blanca...

- They're waiting in the office.
- Right.

And you're even cute, too.

So.

How are you?

Well...

Let's see...

After analyzing your case,

we believe transferring
an embryo from a donor couple,

could increase
your chances of success.

But increase by how much?

I can't give you an exact
percentage right now,

but the embryos
are of high quality.

The donors are compatible and
we'd transfer blastocysts, meaning...

Sure,
but what do you think?

Will I get pregnant or not?

Gemma...

Well,
there's always a chance.

But it's not high.

With the miscarriages
and your age...

I'm sorry.

We've tried so many times...

I'm very sorry.

And...

just knowing there's
even a bit of hope,

even if it's small,

makes me so happy...

Sorry.

No, no...

What?

What should we do?

No, Arnau...

No, crying, no.

Oh, he's so cute!

- Looks just like you!
- Really?

- How'd you comfort him so fast?
- No idea, it's just natural.

You must be such a calm mommy.

- Hi. Here for the class?
- Yes.

She doesn't need it.

She's such a natural...

- Well, I...
- For Baby Space, right?

- Yes.
- You can come in.

Oh, okay.

What a handsome boy.

He has your eyes.

So are you coming in?

You were right.

They only hear
what they want to hear.

What did you expect?

Those two have spent
over 30,000 euros on treatments.

You think they'll let it go?

I want to let it go.

The first time we did
an insemination she got pregnant.

They said it was a girl.

At seven months, we started
preparing Noa's nursery.

We wanted to call her Noa.

The next month,
Gemma gave birth, but...

Noa didn't...

No one knew why.

We tried another insemination,

and then an in vitro,

and then another,
and another...

And another...

It's been six years.

I think Gemma is still
clinging to that first time.

We haven't touched
the nursery since.

It's not about the money,

although we've spent
more than we have.

But starting another phase,
going through it all again,

it would destroy us.

Please,

you have to help her
see the truth.

You have to talk to her,
explain it to her well.

She won't listen to me.

We can't do that.

We can counsel her in the process,

but we can't intervene...
- I'll talk to her.

Today we're talking about
a word that seems insignificant

but rules every day
of our lives: patience.

We have patience
with our kids, partners, at work.

But what happens
when it runs out?

When waiting becomes

hell.

Blanca,
what are you doing here?

Nothing, just,
after we spoke earlier

I felt
I hadn't explained things well.

I think,
to make a decision like this,

you have to take
all factors into account.

You guys have been
through a lot, especially you.

- Physically and emotionally.
- Thanks.

Hello.

You might want to
slow down and consider...

Slow down?

What for?
For my body to get even older?

To cut the chances to zero?

I understand your concern,
but stress and haste won't help.

And maybe think it over...

What exactly
should I think over?

Well, if it's really...

Your job is to make
anything possible,

not to discourage me.

I'm not trying to discourage you,
I'm just explaining the risks.

I really understand your desire,

but consider the price
you might be paying.

You're risking your health.

And your relationship too.

- My relationship?
- The procedure is really tough.

What would you know
about my relationship?

You have no idea
what we've been through.

What it's like to
try and try again.

I do know.
My sister's been trying for two years.

And this is what
you would tell your sister?

To forget about it?

Forget about being a mother?

Let's breathe in...

Slowly...

You're communicating
with your baby.

Are you having fun?

Yeah, lots of people here.

We must breathe in.

Breathe in, breathe in.

We do look alike, yeah.

Tell her "not now."

And we're breathing calmly...

There we go.

- What did you say to the journalist?
- Well...

She was furious.
Said she'll call another clinic.

And that's not all.

She's doing a whole show
on assisted reproduction

talking about us, this clinic.

And probably not to thank us,
what do you think?

- Yes.
- She'll destroy us.

I understand.

Blanca, you're here

because we thought you could
communicate with patients

better than that animal Hector,
but sh*t, you're even worse.

I... I'm sorry.

- Her husband asked me...
- Her husband?

Yes, he asked me
if I could convince his wife

to let it go.

- It's hurting their relationship and...
- Whoa, wait!

With all due respect,
what's it to you, their relationship?

I...

He was really upset
and I wanted...

You wanted?
You wanted what?

Look, Blanca,

if you have any ethical issues
with assisted reproduction,

it'd be best
to speak up now.

Or forever hold your peace.

Blanca?

Do you have any ethical issues
with assisted reproduction?

No.

- No?
- No.

- Yes or no? Simple question.
- No, no.

Okay. Fine.

So, you will call Gemma

and apologize for not
minding your own business.

- But...
- And then,

try to convince her
to stick with us.

What?

I need to see that
you're up to this job.

If you're not, I'm sorry, but...

we'll have to cancel your contract
so neither of us waste our time.

OK?

Alright, so you can...

Her husband, she says...

As if husbands
had any say in the matter.

No wonder there are
more and more clinics!

Any moron can open up one.

Well,
maybe she was trying...

What?
What the hell was she trying to do?

She started talking
about our relationship.

In my office!

She came to my office!

But no matter.

I got us an appointment
at another clinic.

One of those big ones

where they don't ask questions

and just get to work.

It's a bit more expensive,
but that doesn't matter at this point.

- We need a fresh start...
- I asked her to.

...and think positive,
honey, because...

What?

Do we have anchovies?

Ramon.

I asked the biologist

to try to convince you
to let it go.

Why?

Because I can't go on like this.

Two?

And they all lived

happily ever after.

The end.

Cristina?

Thank God,
I've been calling you all day.

It was hard
to get him to sleep.

Your cousin is beside herself.

She can't reach you.

Right, sorry,
I muted my phone.

Well, call her.
She's pretty upset. I can see why.

She says it's been hours that...

Look at him sleeping.

Think he looks like me?

What?

- No.
- He was an accident, you know.

- What?
- They didn't want...

But they didn't
take precautions either.

I think he's a burden to them

if they're already
dumping him at 9 months...

Dumping?

I wouldn't leave
my son for meetings

and a work lunch.

Honey, I've been thinking and

I think if
we put it to them right...

Put what to them right?

If you already have three,
why a fourth?

Could you please call Paula?

- But just think...
- I don't need to, honey.

You know what?
I'll call her.

He said what?

That I'm fired if I don't
get the clients back.

Then let him, honey.
I mean, screw him.

Who does he think he is?
You did right.

Maybe it's not in my job
description, but I couldn't help it.

Of course you couldn't.
You have values, unlike them.

You tried it out and saw
it's not for you. That's it.

I honestly find it strange

to quit public research
for a private clinic,

to indulge the maternal
whims of a few snobs.

Motherhood isn't a whim, Alex.

No, I know...

How would you feel
if you couldn't have kids?

Look, Blanca,

don't worry about the job.

And how do we pay rent?

We don't need your salary.
We closed the contract.

'ISO and Accessibility Rules
Analysis for New Housing.'

Not exactly thrilling,
but it pays well.

You can stay home and rest.

I don't want to stay home.
Or rest.

Take some time off,
think and make plans.

And, look, Blanca,

we could start thinking
about us, about a family.

Would you be happy
to stay home?

Sure I would.
I already am, I work here.

I'm so sorry, Paula.

I lost track of time.
- You can't do that to me.

You never answered,
I almost called the police!

- Yeah, I know.
- Her phone was muted.

Okay, never mind.

Did everything go OK?

Oh, we had a great time, right?

Fine. I'll take him now,
it's really late.

- Cristina.
- What?

My son?

- You already have three.
- What?

- What?
- Honey, give her her baby.

Come here...

Oh, I missed you so much!

Come with Mama.

Come here,
let's go home.

No?
Hungry, aren't you?

Let's go eat.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Me too.

Honey, about today...

It will happen.

You'll see.

- I'm starting to think it won't.
- Trust me.

- It will happen.
- Well, it's not happening.

We pick the right times,
my legs up in the air,

I take folic acid, eat right,
no oregano.

You can eat oregano, honey.

My granddad always said
"better patient than powerful."

What if there's a problem?

There isn't.

I don't know.

- What if we get help?
- Listen,

I already ask for help.

Every Sunday, from Saint Anna.

And from the Virgin of Núria

where you put your head
in the shrine pot.

True.

I don't know.

Maybe...

And if we ask Blanca?

Blanca?

Yes, she started a job
in one of those clinics

that help couples have kids.

Maybe it's a sign.

- Blanca is a midwife now?
- No, an embryologist.

What?

The ones that
make babies in a lab?

Yeah, but just to see if there's
anything wrong with either of us.

Wait, do you want your child
to be made in a lab?

No.

For them to strip us of our essence
and churn out babies like hotcakes?

No, but I also think if there's
a technology to help couples

it's because the Lord
grants it, right?

Right.

And when they ask us
where they came from, we say...?

"You were frozen and someone
made you in a test tube,

we don't know their names,
we weren’t there."

Or will we say they were
the fruit of our love?

Of our love.

So, patience and faith, honey.
Faith.

Faith.

I won't talk to them.

I thought about it
all weekend.

I know, I know, and fine,
maybe I'm not right for this job.

But I think you're wrong.

If you want your clinic
to have a good image,

you can't fuel false hopes.

You need ethical limits
because eventually they'll notice!

That'll be worse. They'll see
you never cared about their wellbeing.

That you never
cared about them!

I know.

You know?

Yes.

Here.

Didn't you listen to
Gemma Miranda's show on Saturday?

- No.
- No?

Wow.
Listen to the podcast.

Yeah, yeah...

Sorry I barged in.

It's okay.

It's not like me, but...

Well, a little bit.

Hope .

We get our hopes up
with a new job, relationship, project.

The word, of course,
means 'to want'

and it has more to do with
our dreams than with reality.

When we get our hopes up,

maybe we also
become dreamers.

Maybe we project
our desires onto reality.

It's so hard
to let go of hope.

Because there are also
people who play with it.

I had my hopes up
about becoming a mother.

And the fertility clinics

Listen, here...!

that I visited
fueled that hope,

This is the important part...

until a compassionate biologist
wasn't afraid to speak the truth.

She decided to disappoint me.

And I couldn't be more grateful.

Thank you, Blanca.

The Ginestia Clinic
is the first one I've known where...

Blanca.

You played it twice already and
Andreu looped it onto the speakers!

Sorry.

I'll play some music.

My music.

One thing, just to be clear,

your strategy is telling women
they can't be mothers?

If necessary, yes.

- Hello?
- Blanca,

you have a new patient
waiting in the office.

I'm coming.