The School for Good Mothers

Ms. Torres postpones Frida’s second visit with Harriet indefinitely due to double-booking. Renee is worried about how the first visit will look in court but plans to argue that Harriet was provoked and her reaction was normal under the circumstances. Frida struggles to focus at work. She repents for the camera in Harriet’s nursery. She hopes the family court judge has children or understands love. Ms. Torres postpones the second visit four more times. Frida struggles with insomnia and drops a dress size. She turns in a late article, and her boss says she can’t work from home anymore. Ms. Torres interviews Frida’s parents and acts like she can’t understand their accents. Frida’s parents wire Frida money. She doesn’t want the court to know her parents have money and could have paid for babysitters; she believes her parents have sacrificed enough.

The second visit occurs at the end of October, six weeks after the first. Ms. Torres gives Frida and Harriet an hour’s notice. Harriet is tired, hungry, and fussy, saying she misses her mother. Again, she wants to cuddle, not play. Ms. Torres asks