- Since I was a child, every move,
on a rail, and now...
It's all gone to hell.
- Your life going off the rails
is the best thing that could happen to you.
This isn't the end.
This is the beginning. (inspirational music)
- I read this study, from Columbia...
It says that it's impossible for a parent
to love an adopted child as much as a biological one.
Parents are
programmed to be drawn to the children that
look most like them.
I would assume it has something to do with
protecting bloodlines. - Well, I would say
that's a flawed study, because I love you the most.
I always have.
(jazzy music) - Married to a man
with hands and a heart as cold as ice for almost 20 years,
you bore him two sons,
made him a home,
and now he just sends you off with nothing but
your precious jewels and some kaftans.
- They're not really mine.
Nothing is. Nothing is permanent.
(sad music) - And here, I'll be
out of the house,
thousands of miles away. (Georgina sniffles)
Were you planning on moving to Cambridge?
- Maybe not full time. (Payton chuckles)
- I'm gonna drop out of the race.
- No. - Okay? I need to be here
with you two as much as I can. - No. No, sweetheart, no.
No matter what happens to your father,
your life is his legacy.
I've already donated all of the proceeds
from this auction to charities that help victims of
Munchausen by proxy
(Payton gasps) in your name.
Thought it might be time
for a little reputation rehabilitation.
(Georgina sighs)
- You're so sad.
- I'm only who I wanna be when I'm in relation to you.
- That's too much pressure to put on me.
The election is next week!
- My lawyer will be in touch.
- Yes, yes, we agree to buy him a timeshare
in Mexico for sneaking you out.
Let's get you a cup of cocoa.
- That's River Barkley, he's incredibly popular in school.
- So are you.
- Not his kind of popular, and he's dating my arch-nemesis,
Astrid Sloan, she called me a fag in second grade.
I'm not even gay. - Oh.
Well, he comes very highly recommended.
I suggest you
(Payton sighs) make him like you and
have Astrid Sloan be very jealous.
- [Payton] So, you two are okay?
- We are what we need to be to protect you.
A family.
(tense music) (lips smacking)
Your ambition frightens me.
- [Payton] Why's that make you cry?
- (sniffles) Because I love you so much.
And I know I'm going to do whatever it takes
to help you get what you want.
Darling, you won the election! - Hmm.
- You did it! This is your senior year!
You should be enjoying yourself!
Hang out with friends, experiment.
- I don't know how to do that.
- Would you like some advice?
Find some way to bring music into your life.
(Payton breathing heavily)
Come here.
(Payton breathing heavily)
I sat down and I made a list
of how perfect mother would be.
Gentle, endlessly loving,
patient, trusting,
and selfless.
- That's exactly how I would describe you.
- I don't know if I can be those things anymore.
A love has edges.
It doesn't go on and on the way my love for you does.
(Georgina sniffles) - And you felt that way
about me right away?
- Like you were a part of me.
It wasn't a meeting.
It was a reunion.
You were alone in the world.
And I suppose I felt that way about myself.
Life isn't a train.
It's a shit tornado full of gold.
You don't have to have a plan.
You have to try to stay clean
and grab every gold bar you can.
This emptiness is a gift.
You finally know what it's like to lose.
(sad music)