Eye Donation Script
“A New Version of You – New Vision for Others”
FADE UP (WITH MUSIC THAT RUNS THROUGHOUT) –
A WOMAN IN HER MID-30s
SHE IS STANDING ON A HILL OVERLOOKING A BEAUTIFUL RURAL LANDSCAPE (OR CITY VIEW).
CUT TO
CLOSE ON –
THE WOMAN’S FACE.
SHE SMILES AT FIRST AS SHE SURVEYS THE SCENE BEFORE HER.
THEN HER EXPRESSION CHANGES, SHE SEEMS IN PAIN…
V/O
Imagine, if you could outlive yourself…
FADE TO –
A YOUNG GIRL OF 10
SHE IS EVIDENTLY BLIND. SHE MOVES AROUND HER BEDROOM, FEELING HER WAY WITH HER HANDS AS SHE LOOKS FOR SOMETHING ON HER DRESSING TABLE…
V/O
This is Zara. She’s ten years old. She was born without sight. She lives with it. She doesn’t complain. She just gets on with her life as best she can.
(SHE FINDS A BOOK, SITS DOWN TO “READ”)
Zara can read braille.
And likes to listen to music.
(SHE PUTS A CD IN THE PLAYER – SOME FLUTE MUSIC BY GOVIND MAKWANA BEGINS TO PLAY)
She can even play the flute.
(ZARA PLAYS ALONG TO THE MUSIC)
Her favourite artist is Govind Makwana. She would one day like to hear him in concert. Sometimes Zara wishes her eyes could see, so she could see what Govind looked like. But the thought of seeing with her own eyes usually makes her sad, so she doesn’t think about it too much.
CUT TO
THE WOMAN IN HER 30s
SHE’S ALSO AT HOME.
SHE MOVES AROUND WITH SOME DISCOMFORT.
V/O
This is Indira. She’s thirty-five years old. She’s had a good life. She has no regrets. She doesn’t have long to live.
(INDIRA FINDS A BROCHURE ON HER DINING TABLE. SHE STARTS TO READ IT, THOUGH WE DON’T SEE WHAT THE BROCHURE IS ABOUT)
Indira has thought about it a lot. At first she wasn’t sure – but now she thinks it is a wonderful thing to do.
CLOSE ON –
INDIRA SIGNING HER NAME ON A FORM IN THE BROCHURE (THOUGH WE DON’T SEE WHAT SHE IS SIGNING)
CLOSE ON –
INDIRA’S FACE.
SHE SMILES DESPITE HER PHYSICAL PAIN.
FADE TO –
ZARA’S MUM AND DAD
THEY ARE READING A LETTER. THEY ARE ALL SMILES.
THEY CALL ZARA IN.
V/O
Sometimes, wishes come true.
ZARA COMES INTO THE ROOM.
HER PARENTS GIVE HER THE GOOD NEWS.
ZARA CAN’T BELIEVE IT.
HER FACE LIGHTS UP IN DISBELIEF AND WONDER.
CUT TO
ZARA IN THE CLINIC CONSULTATION ROOM
ZARA AND HER PARENTS LISTEN AS THE SURGEON EXPLAINS ALL ABOUT EYE TRANSPLANTS.
(MIX IN SHOTS OF THE SURGEON GIVING A SLIDE PRESENTATION ON A COMPUTER/THE REACTION OF ZARA AND HER PARENTS ETC?)…
V/O
At the consultation with the eye surgeon, Zara and her parents were amazed to discover that eye transplantation is totally free in India, for both those donating their eyes and those who receive them. They were also surprised to learn that the whole eye is not removed – only the cornea, the clear tissue at the very front of the eye that covers the iris and pupil. It is a delicate but relatively easy operation and virtually painless afterwards while the eyes adjust to their new vision.
MIX TO
ZARA ON THE OPERATING TABLE (OR CHAIR)
THE SURGEON AND ASSISTANTS ARE ABOUT TO PERFORM AN OPRATION ON ZARA’S EYES.
V/O
There are 15 million blind people in India; 6.8 million of them suffer from corneal blindness. Zara is one of them…
MIX TO
ZARA, USING HER NEW EYES FOR THE FIRST TIME AS THE BANDAGES ARE REMOVED.
HER EYES ADJUST.
V/O
But today, thanks to eye transplantation, Zara has new eyes. Today she will see for the very first time…
POV ZARA –
AS ZARA’S EYES FOCUS AND HER MUM AND DAD COME CLEARLY INTO VIEW.
SHE PUTS HER HANDS TO HER FACE IN SHOCK.
SHE STARTS TO CRY WITH JOY.
HER PARENTS ARE EQUALLY MOVED.
THEY EMBRACE.
CUT TO
A FUNERAL TAKING PLACE
THERE’S A PICTURE OF THE DECEASED IN A FRAME – IT’S INDIRA.
WE ZOOM IN SLOWLY AS THE NARRATOR SAYS THE FOLLOWING…
V/O
Donating your sight is one of the greatest gifts one can ever give. Indira had terminal cancer. She knew she was dying. Indira was worried at first that if she donated her eyes she would be born blind in the next life. But this actually is a total misconception. On the contrary, eye donation is embraced as a very noble deed and one of the best donations one can ever make. Indira wanted to do something good. And she did. She gave the sight of her eyes to Zara and now Zara knows what it is like to see what Indira once did.
CUT TO
THE HILL FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FILM.
ZARA AND HER PARENTS ARE STANDING AS INDIRA DID, VIEWING THE LANDSCAPE.
V/O
You too can know what it feels like to outlive yourself by signing up to donate your eyes. At least, if the worst has come to pass, you can rest a little easier knowing that your kindness and benevolence will live on even after you’ve gone.
FADE TO –
TEXT ON SCREEN OUTLINING THE DETAILS OF THE CAMPAIGN, PHONE NUMBERS ETC…
END
**
FIDA KENYA HEEL-A-THON
FADE IN –
People laughing, singing – men, women, children
IMAGES/FILM –
Western populations taking life easy – couples, children, families, smiling, playing, walking in parks
NARRATOR –
For many people, life is just a stroll in the park…
IMAGES/NEWS FOOTAGE –
Women from countries where they suffer repression and violence
NARRATOR –
For many thousands of women around the world the chance to stroll does not exist.
Their lives are full of horrendous abuse, violence and appalling inequality.
Every day.
In Kenya, it is the same.
Rape, domestic violence, widow cleansing, female genital mutilation, these are just some of the man acts of violence women have to suffer and endure every day.
Such acts are simply indefensible.
The thing is; it doesn’t have to be that way…
MUSIC –
CUT TO –
Various shots/angles of Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
INTERCUT WITH –
CLOSE UPS –
High heel shoes being put on the feet of women, men and children
MIX WITH –
NARRATOR –
FIDA Kenya is doing all it can to help bring about change.You too can play your part…By joining in the fun of the Heel-a-thon Marathon for Kenyan Women, an inspirational awareness and fund-raising event with a message; a race for everyone to take part in, a race with a smile to beat gender inequality.
If you are a man and you despise the way our Kenyan women are treated, then come and join the race to show other males they can change their out-dated attitudes and behaviour and be a champion for the cause to end violence against women.
CAPTION
THE HEEL-A-THON IS COMING!
March 29th 2014
The Heel-A-Thon Marathon for Kenyan Women
10km race for women and men
8.30am – 12.00pm
CUT TO – IMAGES –
MEN & WOMEN living, working, loving together peacefully and in harmony.
NARRATOR –
We do have good laws in our country, yet despite this, violence against women is still a daily nightmare for so many.
It has to stop. It can stop.
It is being stopped…
CAPTION –
Statistics/figures outlining abuses faced by Kenyan women
FADE IN LOGO – FIDA Kenya
NARRATOR
FIDA Kenya has been at the forefront of advocacy for the female survivors of violence through the provision of legal and psychosocial interventions.
IMAGES/FILM CLIPS –
FIDA achievements/programmes/initiatives
NARRATOR
Over nine thousand women come to FIDA Kenya every year seeking our services, so we need your help – men and women – to keep raising awareness and help bring about change every day.
That is why we invite you to take part in The Heel-a-thon for Kenyan Women and help to create safer spaces for women in the home, and therefore safer spaces in the world.
Women and men racing in the shoes of survivors of violence – it is a potent message for such change.
Racing in heels – it symbolizes strength, courage and resilience, qualities needed by Kenyan women every second of their lives.
But it is also a lot of fun!
CUT TO –
IMAGES/NEWS FOOTAGE –
Of other Heel-A-Thon events from around the world…
The women and men running in high heels…
The laughter and fun of the event…
FADE TO –
CAPTION –
The Heel-A-Thon Marathon for Kenyan Women
10km race for women and men
March 29th 2014, 8.30am – 12.00pm
Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
Will you join the race to beat gender inequality?
END IMAGES –
The face of a Kenyan woman showing the scars of domestic violence
MIX TO –
KENYAN MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN in happy union…
Mitch Wicking - Writer for Hire 