THREE YEARS LATER at the couple’s home.
It’s Sunday morning… Mary is by the table in the kitchen with a pen and a piece of paper and she is writing. She is standing and looking outside the window, while she is holding a cup of coffee. She seems concerned. In the scene enters Alexandros.
Al. Goodmorning. M. Goodmorning. He kisses her.
Al. How are you? M. Fine…
Al. Is Anne up?
M. Yes, she woke up very early and she is studying in her room.
Al. Wanna go for a walk?
M. Nah.. It ‘s cloudy. I don’t think it’s a good idea. Al. But since…It is always cloudy on Sundays Mary. M. Yes, it’s always cloudy.
Al. Come here, let me hug you…
M. I am not in the mood. Maybe I’ll lie down and watch TV.
Al. As you wish, I don’t want to pressure you. I will go to the bank. Tomorrow I’m having a very important meeting with a client. He wants to buy some bonds.
M. Ok. You should go…
Al. OK then! I won’t be late… Ok? A couple of hours. I will be back for lunch.
M. Ok, take care.
Alexandros leaves. Mary takes Petros’ photo and looks at it sullenly. She looks again outside the window…
A poem is heard by the speaker, it’s her voice but we see her silent on stage.
It’s been already three years.
My soul experienced the greatest pain of all.
And the pain of my soul’s flesh made me crawl.
Oblivion…you left me… you betrayed me you were so cruel, and you left me hopeless and let the memory rule.
It’s been already three years since my angel is gone… He opened his wings and flew beyond…
His picture shall I always remember, eternally I will love you tender.
After a couple of hours Alexandros is coming back from work. Mary lays the table. After a few minutes Anna enters the stage. She is now a student on the last class of high school. This year she is going to sit the final exams.
M. Welcome!
Al. What delicious meal have you cooked for us today? M. Your favorite. Beef with pasta and sauce.
Al. Hmmm… It smells great!
A. Daddy you’re home! (She gives him a kiss). Al. Yes… Will you join us for lunch?
A. Hmm... Although I am not very hungry, I will join you!
M. Eat, before it gets cold. Have some salad too.
Al. You won’t eat, Mary? M. I am not hungry.
A. Again mum? You are flesh and bones! M. That is not important.
Al. Eat something honey…
M. You two eat. Especially you Anne, you look pale lately.
Al. She spends many hours studying, especially now that the exam period is close.
M. That’s true. She gets tired.
A. I feel tired. Indeed…But it’s fine, After the exams I will rest. M. You will sleep and rest dear.
Al. You should make her orange juice every day. She seems pale to me too.
A. Ok relax, it’s not like I’m dying or something.
Al. Don’t even mention that my angel. (Mary and Alexandros look each other)
A. Well, I m full, I can’t eat a lot, my stomach can’t stand it. I‘ve lost my appetite and my stomach aches sometimes.
Al. Well, you drink too much coffee! And you barely eat. A. Oh daddy, enough already with the food.
M. Right, you don’t want to ruin your figure … for the boys.
A. I am going back to my studying… I have got a splitting headache and I am feeling a little dizzy.
M. Shall I give you a painkiller?
A. Yes mum please. I feel horrible. Lately I’ve been taking aspirins for those headaches, but they don’t seem to work. I guess I will lie down for half an hour.
M. How long have you been having these aches? You haven’t told us anything about it until today. Anyway, go lie down and I will be right with you. I will bring you some juice.
Anne is going to her room.
Al. She seems tired.
M. Be patient… She suffers from stress.
Al. And you from melancholy… You never smile anymore. Since…
M. Since…
Al. Since we lost our child.
M. Since I saw him in the box..! In that damned box. So pale and still. And then the lid was closed and the box sank into the ground. This was the last time I saw him… In that coffin! I can’t take that picture off my head. I just can’t.!!
Al. Calm down… Don’t be upset again… Would you like to lie down a little? (He is holding her). I will clean the table.
M. You are such a great partner. What would I do without you?
I don’t think I could handle this all by myself. Not that I am handling it very well, anyway…
Al. Don’t forget that we have our little girl. She keeps us both alive. Optimistic.
M. You’ re right. What would we do, if it wasn’t for her?
Al. Come now, let’s lie down now and in the afternoon we can go to the movies If you want…
M. Alright. (Small smile)
The scene ends.
Two months later.
It’s night. We see Anne getting up from her bed and going to the bathroom. (Scene without words.)
It’s morning. The parents are ready to go to their work. Anne hasn’t got up from her bed yet, though. Her parents are worried.
Al. Goodmorning! (He gived Mary a kiss) M. Goodmorning.
Al. Anne is not up yet?
M. No... I entered her room. She told me she wasn’t feeling that well… I don’t know, she couldn’t get up.
Al. Does she have fever?
M. No, I checked her temperature a few minutes ago. It was normal. I don’t know what’s going on.
Al. Did she go to bed late last night again?
M. Maybe. You know she is often late especially lately due to her studying. I don’t know exactly what time it was but it was definitely late. I heard her going to the bathroom several times.
Al. You think she caught a cold and caused her frequent urination?
M. Or she could be expecting her period. Before we get our period, we women have frequent urination issues.
Al. Anyway. She shall stay in today to rest and study in the comfort of her home and we’ll see how it goes.
M. Yes that’s the best for her. I will call her later during the break at school.
Al. I will call her as soon as I have some free time. So, See you. Have a good day.
M. Have a good day.
(They kiss and go to work. End of scene.)
A week later. Alexandros is working in his office, when his phone rings. It’s from Anne’s school. He is informed that Anne fainted during the lesson.
Al. What? What did you say? She fainted? But what happened? During the lesson? Ok… Was my wife informed? Did you call her at work. Yes, at the primary school, where she works. I’ll be right there!
He grabs his jacket and leaves his office stressed. The scene closes and opens again with the parents at home. Anne is lying on her bed. Both oh her parents are by her side.
A. I am sorry I made you worry.
M. What are you talking about? You are more important than anything else.
Al. How are you feeling right now? A. I am tired but I’m feeling better.
M. I think you should take a blood test…You might have low iron or low ferritin levels, since you barely eat and you’re thin. A. Come on mum.. Don’t start again, I’m begging you.
Al. She’s right. We shall let her rest now and we’ll see how it goes. Come sweetheart.. Come.. Sleep now and we’ll talk tomorrow.
They leave Anne alone in her room and they talk. Just the two of them.
M. Alexandros I am really worried! Al. Me too.
M. We should take her to a doctor, she might need medicine, we should find out what causes that. She is a young girl, she shouldn’t be fainting all of a sudden.
Al. She might need vitamins… She is also tired… Of course these are the final exams. She studies really hard, she goes to school and she Is stressed…It is natural that she is exhausted! M. You’re right. I am afraid though. Ok, she is tired…But other students of her age are going through the same. They study, they are stressed and they run around every day. Nonetheless, they don’t pass out like this!
Al. Ok we will take her to the doctor, but please don’t worry and don’t be negative.
They are hugging. The scene closes. We are moving hypothetically to the microbiology laboratory.
Al. Honey, you are going to do these blood and urine tests and we’ll see ok? Although I think you are perfectly healthy…
A. Ok dad. Let’s go now, because I’ll be late for school.
Two days later, at home.
M. I am worried for her, Alexandros. Today she didn’t go to school. What is wrong with her? She should have taken a fatigue test!
Al. Calm down… I will take the results and we’ll see what the problem is.
M. I make her juice every day and I cook soups with meat, with fish for her, but she gets pastier every day. I want to come with you to the microbiology lab!
Al. You should stay here and take good care of her! I won’t be late… Come on, don’t be sad. She is a young girl, what could be wrong with her? So, I’ll be right back. (He kisses her on the lips).
After some time Alexandros comes back bowed.
M. Where have you been? Why did you switch off your mobile phone? I’m getting crazy around here!
Al. Where is Anne?
M. She is sleeping, where are the test results?
Al. (He sits). I have bad news. Her test results are not good. She needs to see a nephrologist immediately. Tomorrow!
M. What are you talking about? Oh good Lord, what is wrong now?
Al. Stay calm… The microbiologist recommended a very good friend of his, who is a nephrologist. He even set us an appointment. He is very good, he is surgeon at a very good public hospital, he performs… (his voice breaks) transplants.
M. Transplants? And what does it have to do with us? Tell me… how does it affect us? Answer me! Where have you been? Why didn’t you come here after the microbiology lab? Why did you switch you phone off?
Al. I was just driving around. I forgot to charge my phone’s battery…
M. Bullshit. Are you kidding me? You wanted to be alone. You didn’t want to talk to anyone, right? He told you more things… Things you are not telling me now.
Al. Calm down. He said nothing more than that.
M. Alexandros, I am scared. I won’t stand it again. I have paid for the mistakes I may have done in my life. I have already lost my son. And he was only 19. I can’t go through this again! I can’t!!
Al. Don’t be scared. Our daughter is going to be fine. We will go to the nephrologist tomorrow and he will tell us what to do. He is very experienced. Everything’s gonna be fine. You’ll see. They are hugging. We move to the nephrologist’s office, where the three-member family is about to learn the shocking news.
Nephrologist. Your child suffers from ischaemic form of acute renal insufficiency. We found high creatinine levels in her blood.
M. What? Acute renal insufficiency? But she is only 17! She is neither an old woman with diabetes nor obese.
Nepphrologist. Indeed… But even young and strong people may suffer from that disease.
Al. But how is it possible? Anne had never had such problems in the past.
Nephrologist. Probably this was caused due to drug intake as for example aminoglycosides or maybe by rhabdomyolisis, which is caused by intense exercise or even by heat exhaustion. I don’t know what Anne’s lifestyle was, but there has to be a reason. There is always a reason.
M. And now what?
Nephrologist. Now she must begin with dialysis treatment as soon as possible and go to the hospital every two days. Or you can do peritoneal dialysis at home every 6 hours, after you get a 15-day training and you should go to hospital once a month, to make sure that the treatment goes well.
M. Oh my God… (she touches her head). Al. For how long will that be doctor?
Nephrologist. Until we find a compatible donor for transplantation. This could be a relative from within the family that is more possible to be compatible or some stranger on the waiting list of the National Transplant Organisation.
M. Waiting list…
On stage freeze all four faces for a few seconds (the suitable music theme is heard).
The next day at home.
M. I am going to give Anne my kidney! I will do it!! I could give my life for her!
All I want is my daughter to live! I don’t care for the money. I
will sell all I have inherited from my father and I will give all my savings that I have in the bank so that we can take her to a very good private clinic, in a single room, where everything Is clean, neat and tidy. I don’t care about anything else. I don’t care if we starve or if we become beggars. All that matters is that she is healthy again!
Al. Don’t speak that loudly! She could hear you and wake up! She is tired enough with all that. What we have to do is to make her feel good and not sick. And of course we will give her everything she needs. As for example a quiet and clean room. We must avoid infections at all costs. What’s the point if the surgery is successful and then Anne is infected by the other patients in the room? What ‘s the point of having the best surgeon but in a hospital with no infrastructure?
M. But transplants are not performed in private hospital, not yet. Of course the way is almost open for that to happen, but for the time being the transplant is going to be performed in a public hospital and then we will bring her to a single room in a private clinic. If this is allowed of course and only if this is for her own good.
Al. Everything is going to be fine! Don’t worry my darling.
M. I am not afraid, I am not afraid of anything anymore. Especially now that I know that I am a compatible donor! I am her mother…And apart from that I am perfectly healthy and I am not under medication- so there is nothing that I care about… Just that I am going to give her life, hope… I don’t care for me… I don’t care if I die!
Al. Calm down! Nobody is going to die! None of you… I wish I were a compatible donor… I wish I were too, so that I could give life to our little Anne, and you my love wouldn’t lose anything, nothing would happen to you.
M. I don’t feel that I am losing, Alexandros. I feel that I am winning. I am winning the prize of life for our little girl. I feel that I can resist to evil, defeat it and that’s what makes me optimistic and strong. I can reach the limits for my Anne to be healthy.
Al. I am very proud of both of you…
He kisses her and the scene closes. A week later the transplant has been performed. Mary donated her kidney to her daughter.
Al. How are you my dear Anne?
A. Fine dad… I am feeling sleepy… My mouth is dry. Al. it’s because of the surgery.
A. How’s mum?
Al. Your mum is perfectly fine. She is sleeping. Do you know that everything went great? The surgery was successful! Soon everything will get back to normal! You will be healthy, strong and you’ll be able to go out with your friends again.
A. My friends must be sitting the exams these days. And that’s something I can’t do…
Al. But what are you talking about? You will do it next year sweetie! So what? You are still very young! Don’t forget that you went sooner to school. You are only 17,5 and your friends are already 18! So, don’t worry about that dear. Your healthy is what matters now.
A. How long am I going to stay in here dad? Al. Round about twenty more days honey… A. Twenty days….
Al. We are going to be constantly by your side and then we are going to get back home and you’ll have your room again and you’ll relax. You’ll see… (he caresses her head and the scene closes)
One month later at home. Al. Good morning…
M. Good morning…
Al. You spent the night here?
M. I was watching a movie…and I fell asleep on the couch…
Al. Did you have breakfast?
M. Nah… I am sitting here on the soft couch and I’m snuggling…
Al. Mary darling, you should eat better…You are still vulnerable, you know that…
M. You are exaggerating…After all, you know that little do I care for me. All I care about is that Anne’s body accepts the transplant and she is happy again. She is a little girl…
Al. I totally agree with you! But I also want you to be fine! You are my partner, my wife and I don’t want anything to happen to you… I want you to be fine! (he caresses her gently)
M. I am fine, I am not sick, Alexandros. Thank God!.. I may have given my kidney, but I am fine. Don’t care for me. We should pay all our attention to Anne. Tomorrow she should take the tests. We need to know how the transplant goes.
Al. You think I would forget that? I am in suspense too. I wish her body assimilates the transplant.
M. Hopefully it will. I shall die! I shall not live…provided my daughter is healthy again. The next day in the hospital
Nephrologist. I am really sorry. (He is holding Anne’s test results). It was not successful. Her body rejected the transplant.
M. But why??? How?? (Mary hugs Anne).
Nephrologist. We knew from the beginning that there was a chance that her body wouldn’t accept the transplant. We are facing an acute rejection because of the antibodies created. This kind of rejection is usually visible during the first trimester after the surgery.
Al. But she’s her mother! She took the kidney of her living mother, who is healthy and her test results were perfect… If this kidney was rejected, then how can some stranger’s be accepted?
Neph. It is possible… Your body may not accept your parent’s kidney, but I could accept the kidney of some stranger, who is also compatible. And that kidney could give you life for up to
25 years. Apart from that, I’ve already told you, that it was caused because of the antibodies. You wife’s kidney was not the problem.
A. And now doctor?
Neph. Now you are on the waiting list my little Anne. M. Until when?
Al. My family is falling apart and there is no solution, no responsibly answer, no hope…
Neph. The game is not over yet, Mr Stratou. Al. It’s not? Then what are we waiting for? Neph. We are waiting for the donor.
Al. But we can’t wound my child and stitch it back as if she was lifeless.
Neph. We have no other choice.. I know how you feel, but there’s nothing else to do.
M. How much is the average waiting time?
Neph. That’s not something fixed. Transplant demand is very high. A little less than twenty percent of those suffering from acute renal insufficiency manage to get a transplant. Average waiting time is 7 years… But there are also recipients, who found a transplant within 2 or 3 years…
A. Oh my God. And then you telling me that the game in not over!
Neph. Don’t lose your hope…I will call you on the phone as soon as a compatible donor is found. Keep your mobile phone on day and night. Until then Anne you should keep implementing peritoneal dialysis at home carefully, as shown to you, if you make that choice, take your pills normally and be optimistic, all of you. Nothing is over yet.