SYNOPSIS
Scene 1: The Hospital
DOCTOR MAYHEW is fixing RYAN to a dialysis machine at the hospital.
He meets GEMMA, a fellow kidney patient, and sixth former from his school.
She is reading a leaflet about holidays for people on dialysis and becomes
increasingly irritated by Ryan’s wisecracks and moans about the
strict renal diet. Gemma is a strict Vegan by choice, and not amused
by Ryan’s woeful listing of all the junk foods he’ll no
longer be able to eat.
Scene 2: Ryan’s House
Ryan’s mum, SALLY, is cooking dinner. Ryan tells her he has decided
to become a vegetarian. Sally suspects he has been influenced by Gemma.
He has decided to switch to peritoneal dialysis (‘the bag system’),
to see if it suits him better. He is self-conscious about the bag and
tube connected to his abdomen. Gemma pops round to ask Sally to sign
a petition and advises Ryan how to overcome this problem. He invites
Gemma to go to a friend’s birthday party in a local nightclub.
Reluctantly she agrees.
Scene 3: The Night Club
Gemma has a go at one of Ryan’s friends for wearing a leather
jacket. Ryan tries to get her to enjoy herself. He asks her to keep
an eye out while he goes into the toilets to change his bag...
Scene 4: The Hospital
Doctor Mayhew is connecting Gemma to the dialysis machine. They talk
about her ‘date’ with Ryan. Gemma is writing to the parliamentary
secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture - she asks Doctor Mayhew to
help her. Doctor Mayhew suggests she asks Ryan. Gemma tells Doctor Mayhew
that Ryan wants them to get together on Saturday. Doctor Mayhew suggests
they go somewhere Gemma would like.
Scene 5: The Animal Shelter
The ‘date’ turns out to be helping her look after abandoned
pets at a local animal shelter. Despite getting muddy, Ryan really enjoys
himself. A rapport is growing between him and Gemma.
Scene 6: Doctor Mayhew’s Office
Doctor Mayhew tells Ryan that her car was vandalised by some people
who may think her work is controversial. She tells him that she has
something important that she wants to discuss with him.
Scene 7: Ryan’s House
Gemma is waiting for Ryan. She asks Sally to help her with some posters
- ‘Say No To Animal Experimentation’. Sally reveals that
she works for a design company. Gemma finds out that Ryan’s dad
died when Ryan was very small. Ryan appears and takes Gemma out for
a meal.
Scene 8: A Restaurant
Ryan tells Gemma that Doctor Mayhew has offered him a pig’s kidney
(xeno-transplant). Ryan is not sure whether or not he is going to accept.
Gemma storms out of the restaurant.
Scene 9: Ryan’s Home
Gemma drops by to apologise. Ryan tells her he just wants to forget
about the situation. They kiss for the first time. Gemma tells Ryan
that she no longer has a boyfriend. We find out that they are both virgins
and they talk about how hard it is to feel sexy when on dialysis. They
kiss again.
Scene 10: Doctor Mayhew’s Office
Doctor Mayhew tries to persuade Ryan to have a xenotransplant. She tries
to allay his fears about the dangers of rejection and disease transmission.
Mum is concerned that both the Doctor and Gemma are trying to pressurise
Ryan into supporting them. Ryan reminds them that he can think for himself.
He thinks about what having a pig’s kidney would mean for him.
Scene 11: The Hospital
Gemma tries to dissuade Ryan from having the xenotransplant. She challenges
him about the definition of acceptable choice. She explains how the
transgenic pigs are produced. She talks about the very real dangers
of animal to human disease transmission and rejection and tells Ryan
that Doctor Mayhew is on the payroll of the drugs company doing the
research.
Mum appears and tells Gemma that she wants her to stop trying to influence
Ryan’s decision. She also reveals that Gemma hasn’t been
honest with Ryan. Gemma doesn’t have the choice of an animal kidney
because of her diabetes. Gemma says she wouldn’t have one anyway
- Ryan is angry that Gemma has tried to persuade him not to have a transplant,
without telling him this.
Ryan has to go and have a blood test. Gemma tells Sally she is leading
a demonstration at the hospital against Xenotransplantation. She is
also going to switch to another consultant. The scene ends with Gemma
admitting to Sally that she is scared for Ryan.
Scene 12: Ryan’s House
Ryan discovers that his mum has been receiving hate mail from animal
rights protesters. She asks him if he has made his decision yet.
Scene 13: Picket Line Outside The Hospital
Today is the day when Ryan must tell the doctor his decision. Ryan arrives
at the hospital picket line. He sees Gemma. The couple admit the extent
of their feelings for each other. Ryan asks Gemma if she would still
feel the same about him if he had the operation. She says she couldn’t
accept it. Ryan tells Gemma that he has an infection so he is not suitable
for a transplant at the moment. Gemma asks him if he has made his decision.
Ryan tells her that he has...
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