Breathe Page #13

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96A EXT. TEDDY HALL’S WORKSHOP, OXFORDSHIRE -DAY 96A

Rain streaming down over sodden English countryside.

Robin’s van has just pulled up by Teddy Hall’s workshop.

Diana and Jonathan get out, trying to keep umbrellas in placeover themselves, and open the van’s rear doors.

ON ROBIN in his wheelchair as he descends on the poweredtailgate. The chair hits the ground. Diana holds an umbrellaover him.

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ROBINLet’s get this show on the road.

Ahead, standing under his own umbrella is DR CLEMENT AITKEN.

Beside him stands Teddy Hall. Robin is pushed up to him.

ROBIN:

Dr Clement Aitken?

CLEMENT AITKEN:

The same.

ROBIN:

(to Teddy)

When I phoned him he thought Iwas... a wheelchair salesman.

CLEMENT AITKEN:

A drunk wheelchair salesman,

actually.

TEDDY HALL:

I suppose I’m the wheelchair

salesman.

Dr Aitken takes in the wheelchair properly for the firsttime.

CLEMENT AITKEN:

Is that chair breathing?

He bends down to listen to the respirator.

CLEMENT AITKENLike a sleeping lion! Glorious!

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108 INT. TEDDY HALL’S WORKSHOP -DAY 108

Teddy Hall shows Clement Aitken round his workshop where the

chair was made. Diana wheels Robin along behind.

CLEMENT AITKENI have never in all my career seenanything like this. You just madethis up?

TEDDY HALLPretty much.

CLEMENT AITKENOnly way to get anything done.

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TEDDY HALLI like this man... Is he a doctor?

ROBINHe runs the Disability ResearchFoundation.

DIANA:

Which he invented.

ROBINAnd appointed himself Director.

CLEMENT AITKENIf nobody else will do it, you haveto do it yourself.

He’s reached an early version of the Mark II wheelchair.

CLEMENT AITKEN:

Hello! What’s this?

TEDDY HALLI’ve been having a go at a MarkII version. The battery life onthe Mark One is poor. Also thepump is too noisy. I’m trying outusing a solenoid.

CLEMENT AITKENFascinating! So what is the batterylife?

TEDDY HALLOn the Mark II, about six hours.

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CLEMENT AITKEN(to Robin)

How long have you been living withthis condition?

ROBINEleven years so far.

CLEMENT AITKENIncredible! If these chairs ofyours really work, I could use alot of them.

How many?

Hundreds.

TEDDY HALL:

CLEMENT AITKEN:

TEDDY HALLAh. So far I’ve financed the workmyself. Hasn’t set me back toomuch. But if we’re to go intoproduction, we’d need properfunding.

ROBINName a figure.

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109 INT. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFICE -DAY 109

A senior civil servant in the Department of Health, MrPICKERING, leans across his desk, studying Robin’swheelchair. Robin sits patiently, Diana by his side.

Pickering’s questions are all addressed to Diana, as if Robinis deaf as well as paralysed.

PICKERING:

What qualifications are required

for operating this equipment?

DIANANone. It’s not hard.

PICKERINGDo you regard it as perfectly safe?

DIANANothing’s perfectly safe, is it?

Pickering nods and settles back behind his desk.

PICKERING:

The Department has to take into

account the question of cost-

effectiveness. The life expectancy

of polio patients is, let’s say,

below average. I’m sorry, I can’t

see how I can in all fairness make

a case for funding. I have to

follow the rules.

ROBIN:

Rules are so paralysing, aren’t

they?

Pickering turns to look at Robin in surprise.

PICKERING:

Of course, I do have every sympathy

for your condition.

ROBIN:

Likewise.

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110 EXT. COUNTRY ROAD -DAY 110

The Bedford van drives down a country road.

IN THE VAN -Diana driving. Robin in his wheelchair besideher.

ROBIN:

Name?

DIANALady Jane Neville.

ROBIN:

Good for?

DIANAA thousand at least, if she’s inthe mood.

ROBINAm I plucky or pitiful?

DIANAI think plucky. These old dowagersare tough as nails.

111 INT. DRAWING ROOM, COUNTRY HOUSE -DAY 111

Lady Jane Neville is a perfectly-groomed 70-year-old, withall her wits about her. She gazes at Robin in hiswheelchair.

LADY NEVILLEWhy does it make that funnynoise?

DIANAThat’s the wheelchair. It does hisbreathing for him.

The Countess meets Robin’s gaze with interest.

LADY NEVILLEAre you quite sure it’s safe foryou to be out?

ROBINSeems to have worked so far.

LADY NEVILLEAnd what exactly is it you want?

ROBINMore of these chairs.

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DIANAFor other polio patients.

ROBINAt £200 a wheelchair.

DIANAExcellent value.

ROBINFive for a thousand.

LADY NEVILLEA thousand?

ROBINOr ten for £2,000.

LADY NEVILLE:

£2,000?

ROBINI knew we could count on you.

DIANAThat is so generous.

ROBINWe’ll take a cheque.

Lady Neville knows exactly what’s been done to her, but itamuses her.

LADY NEVILLEI don’t usually have any difficultysaying no to spongers. But here youare, wheezing away at me. So Isuppose I shall have to pay up.

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113 EXT. TEDDY HALL’S WORKSHOP -DAY 113

Teddy Hall now has a team of mechanics assembling the MarkII wheelchairs. Three of them stand by the doors ready togo. Robin’s van has just pulled up. The mechanics load thenew wheelchairs into the back.

IN VAN -Three Mark II wheelchairs in the back. Robin in hiswheelchair in the front. Diana in the driving seat.

DIANAHere we go.

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115AA EXT. HOSPITAL CAR PARK -DAY 115AA

ON PADDY’S FACE -Terrified and delighted -as Nurse Margaretwheels him out in one of the new wheelchairs.

A line of eight wheelchairs, each carrying a responaut, isnow advancing TOWARDS CAMERA like an invasion of battletanks. Robin and Paddy in the lead. Press photographers takepictures. This is a staged event.

Diana moves from wheelchair to wheelchair adjusting the

working of the machines

PADDYThis is bloody marvellous!

ROBIN:

Feel safe?

PADDYI feel bloody terrified.

ROBINWhy?... I’m still here.

PADDYYou’re a bloody miracle, Robin.

ROBINYou too, Paddy.

(to Nurse)

Still stuck with him, are you?

NURSE MARGARETCan’t get rid of him.

Clement Aitken joins the responauts to make a press

statement.

CLEMENT AITKEN:

My name is Dr Clement Aitken. I’m

the Director of the Disability

Research Foundation.In this country

there are hundreds of severely

disabled patients currently living

their entire lives in hospital

beds. Worldwide there are

thousands. You think they like

that?

He appeals to the responauts.

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