Plot Summary
Copywriter Lucy Martin lives in Manhattan with her husband Adrian. After two years of trying to conceive, they decide to consult Dr. John Hindle, a prominent fertility specialist and Adrian’s former professor. Following a successful insemination procedure developed by Hindle, Lucy discovers during an ultrasound that she is expecting triplets: two boys and a girl. However, Hindle recommends a selective reduction, suggesting that either the twins or the daughter must be terminated to ensure a safer pregnancy. After much deliberation, Lucy and Adrian opt to keep the girl.
Lucy then joins a support group for expectant mothers, where she befriends Corgan, who conceived through IVF. She becomes intrigued by Grace Singleton, a spiritual midwife with a natural approach to childbirth, which she discovers online.
During the reduction process, Lucy loses consciousness, only to overhear a conversation between Adrian and Hindle upon regaining awareness. Following this, she experiences excessive bleeding, which Hindle dismisses as a normal concern. The relationship between Lucy and Hindle becomes strained when Adrian presents him with an award, raising Lucy’s suspicions about Hindle’s true intentions.
While investigating Adrian’s office, she uncovers a safe and confides in Corgan about her growing unease, suspecting that Hindle has ulterior motives regarding her unborn daughter, and that Adrian may be complicit. As Lucy faces further complications in her pregnancy, Hindle attributes it to antenatal depression and prescribes medication. However, after a disturbing dream revealing a connection between Hindle and Adrian, Lucy discovers damning evidence in Adrian’s safe indicating she is under surveillance. Corgan, worried for Lucy’s safety, advises her to stay calm and report her findings to her lawyer husband.
During a baby shower, Lucy is unsettled to learn that Corgan knows her real identity, despite it never being disclosed. Corgan gifts her the first edition of Peter Pan and Wendy, and Lucy perceives the book cover transforming into an ominous bloodstain. Confronting Corgan leads to the revelation that she is also consulting Hindle and had shared Lucy’s file with Adrian, who denies ever owning a safe.
As Lucy prepares to give birth, she faces contractions and opts to visit Grace for assistance. Consequently, she realizes she is birthing the male twins and not the daughter. However, before the second twin can be delivered, Grace insists on a hospital visit due to heavy bleeding. Yet, Adrian insists on returning to Hindle’s practice, where the second baby is ultimately brought into the world. With feelings of disillusionment and despair mounting, Lucy confides in Grace, only to discern that her imagined image of Grace as a maternal ‘goddess’ was largely an elaborate fantasy.
Determined to confront Hindle, Lucy ventures to his clinic, where she is horrified to learn that Adrian plans to join Hindle’s gynecological practice. While investigating a restricted area labeled “The Lab,” Lucy encounters her discarded placenta and realizes the grim truth about Hindle’s manipulations—he used his own sperm for insemination, aiming to propagate his own lineage. In a fit of rage, she fights back against Hindle, even after being attacked by a nurse named Dawn. Lucy manages to overpower them both, demolishing Hindle’s sperm vials in the process, and makes a definitive choice by taking the female fetus with her.
Upon returning home, she envisions herself releasing the twins to float out the window—a nod to the recurring motifs of Peter Pan. When Adrian arrives and makes justifications regarding his collaboration with Hindle, Lucy, unsatisfied and borderline hysterical, demands he leave with the twins. In a surreal moment of vulnerability, she tries to breastfeed the female fetus, encountering a vivid hallucination that it begins to suckle, encapsulating her inner turmoil and desperation.
Timeline
Consulting Dr. Hindle
Lucy Martin and her husband Adrian, after two years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive, decide to visit Dr. John Hindle, a renowned fertility specialist. This marks the beginning of their journey into the world of fertility treatments and sets the stage for the challenges they are about to face.
Successful Insemination
After undergoing a procedure developed by Dr. Hindle, Lucy discovers during an ultrasound that she is pregnant with triplets, consisting of two boys and a girl. This moment brings both excitement and anxiety as the couple contemplates the implications of their unexpected pregnancy.
Selective Reduction Recommendation
Dr. Hindle recommends a selective reduction, urging Lucy and Adrian to terminate either the twin boys or the girl to ensure a safer pregnancy. Faced with this difficult decision, the couple deliberates and ultimately decides to keep the female fetus.
Joining the Support Group
In search of camaraderie and understanding, Lucy attends a support group for expectant mothers. Here, she meets Corgan, who has also turned to IVF, and together they explore their fears and experiences in this new chapter of their lives.
Discovering Grace Singleton
Lucy becomes fascinated by Grace Singleton, a spiritual midwife with a holistic approach to childbirth, after discovering her online. This newfound interest offers Lucy an alternative perspective on her impending birth, enriching her understanding of motherhood.
Loss of Consciousness
During the selective reduction procedure, Lucy loses consciousness and overhears a troubling conversation between Adrian and Dr. Hindle upon regaining awareness. This incident leaves her feeling uneasy and concerned about the motivations of those around her.
Strained Relationships
Lucy’s relationship with Dr. Hindle becomes increasingly strained after Adrian presents Hindle with an award. Her feelings of suspicion grow, leading her to question Hindle's true intentions regarding her unborn children.
Investigation and Discovery
While searching through Adrian's office, Lucy uncovers a safe and confides in Corgan about her concerns regarding Hindle's potential ulterior motives. This discovery propels her further into a state of unease about her husband's loyalty and the safety of her children.
Confrontation with Corgan
During a baby shower, Lucy finds it unsettling that Corgan seems to know more about her situation than she has shared. The confrontation reveals Corgan's connections to Hindle and raises suspicions about how much of her personal information has been exposed.
Preparing for Birth
As Lucy's due date approaches, she experiences intense contractions and makes the choice to seek assistance from Grace. However, she quickly learns that her reality is about to shift dramatically as she navigates the complexities of her impending labor.
Hospital Decision
Despite Lucy's instincts urging her to see Grace, the pressure from Adrian leads them back to Hindle, where she ultimately gives birth to the twins. The stressful journey of labor emphasizes the fractured trust between Lucy and Adrian in dire circumstances.
Confronting Hindle
Determined to confront the truth, Lucy arrives at Dr. Hindle's clinic, only to uncover horrifying evidence of his manipulations. Realizing he used his own sperm for Lucy's insemination, she is engulfed by anger and betrayal.
Fight for Freedom
In a desperate act of defiance, Lucy confronts both Hindle and a nurse named Dawn, resulting in a violent struggle. Her fight leads to a significant decision as she destroys Hindle's sperm vials, symbolizing her rejection of his control.
Hallucination and Vulnerability
Back home, Lucy experiences a surreal moment as she hallucinates breastfeeding the female fetus, reflecting her deep-seated fears and desires. This moment distills her emotional turmoil, intertwined with themes of motherhood and loss.
Final Confrontation with Adrian
When Adrian arrives home to discuss his involvement with Hindle, Lucy, overwhelmed with accusations and despair, demands he leave with the twins. This confrontation signifies the crumbling of their relationship, highlighting the profound mistrust that has developed.
Characters
Adrian (Justin Theroux)
Adrian is Lucy's husband, who initially appears supportive but ultimately raises suspicions about his true intentions. His relationship with Dr. Hindle complicates the dynamics, creating an unsettling atmosphere of betrayal for Lucy. As the story unfolds, Adrian's duplicity becomes a central concern for Lucy, heightening her sense of paranoia.
Dr. John Hindle (Pierce Brosnan)
Dr. Hindle is a prominent fertility specialist whose initially professional demeanor masks darker motives. As the plot develops, he embodies ethical dilemmas in medical practice, revealing manipulative tendencies that put Lucy's well-being at risk. His role as a trusted doctor shifts into that of an antagonist, illustrating complexities in medical authority.
Corgan (Sophia Bush)
Corgan is a supportive figure in Lucy's life, showing compassion and concern during her pregnancy struggles. As a fellow expectant mother who conceived through IVF, she offers a sense of camaraderie amid Lucy's growing paranoia. However, her hidden connections to Dr. Hindle complicate her role as a friend and ally.
Nurse Dawn (Gretchen Mol)
Nurse Dawn plays a critical role in the hospital, embodying the more sinister aspects of medical care. Her aggressive actions during Lucy's ordeal evoke feelings of vulnerability and chaos, underscoring the tension surrounding Lucy's experiences. Dawn's character represents the potential dangers lurking within the healthcare system.
Setting
Time period
The movie does not specify a particular time period, but it reflects contemporary issues surrounding fertility, motherhood, and the ethics of medical practices. The characters' experiences and discussions resonate with many current societal concerns and debates.
Location
Manhattan
Manhattan is one of New York City's five boroughs, known for its iconic skyline and vibrant culture. It is a bustling urban center rich in art, fashion, and business. The borough is home to many famous landmarks, such as Central Park and Times Square, making it a significant cultural and economic hub.
Themes
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Betrayal
Betrayal plays a critical role in Lucy's journey, as she grapples with the undermining of trust among her husband and medical professional. As she unveils the sinister connections between Adrian and Dr. Hindle, her sense of security is shattered. The theme emphasizes the psychological impact of deceit on relationships, particularly during vulnerable times.
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Motherhood
Motherhood is a central theme, illustrating both the joys and turmoil associated with pregnancy. Lucy's journey explores the emotional and physical challenges that accompany expecting mothers, especially regarding the difficult decisions they may face about their children. The theme challenges traditional notions of maternity within the backdrop of medical intervention.
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Discovery
Discovery runs throughout Lucy's experience as she uncovers disturbing truths about her pregnancy and the people she trusted. From finding out about her doctor's unethical practices to confronting her husband's secretive behaviors, the theme reflects the journey of seeking the truth in a web of manipulation. It highlights the strength required to face unsettling realities head-on.
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