200 KIDNEYS (SMALL LOCATION)
Script/Idea: West/Ross
This Draft: 11-5 (CLK)
INT. NEWSROOM
ANCHOR
Billionaires like Warren Buffett
and Bill Gates are known for their
charitable contributions. But not
all great givers crave the
spotlight. Last night at
Massachusetts General Hospital in
Boston, an anonymous individual
gave an unprecedented donation of
two hundred human kidneys.
FOOTAGE: Establishing WS of Mass General hospital.
INT. HOSPITAL -- LOBBY
The bustling lobby of a nice-looking modern hospital.
DOCTOR LUIS BARRERO -- mid 30s, friendly-looking -- stands
wearing scrubs.
DOCTOR BARRERO
This is unbelievably generous. The
most kidneys anyone had ever
donated before this was two so it's
really just an amazing gift.
INT. HOSPITAL -- LOBBY
BLACK AND WHITE SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE (camera aims outside
through the doors like in "Alzheimer's") A MAN wearing a
baggy sweatshirt with the hood up obscuring his identity runs
by the hospital door and tosses the bag at it. (This will be
a clear garbage bag filled with kidneys from a butcher. It
will be dripping blood.) It bounces off the door and hits the
ground. The man hesitates and then runs away.
ANCHOR (V.O.)
The secret benefactor delivered his
gift a few minutes before four a.m.
last night, as seen here in this
security camera footage.
The philanthropist sought no
fanfare, but instead placed a bag
containing the organs at a side
door of the hospital, and left
without requesting so much as a
"thank you." A janitor found the
kidneys early this morning.
B-ROLL: A NURSE carries the sack of kidneys down a hallway.
It drips a trail of blood. S/He is beaming, as are any other
staff members that may be present. Another DOCTOR snaps a
photo of the bag, an ATTENDANT is videoing the proceedings
...
B-Roll:
ANCHOR (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Doctor Luis Barrero, director of
the hospital's renal surgery
department, commended the
benevolent act.
B-ROLL: A JANITOR mops up the trail of blood.
INT. HOSPITAL -- LOBBY
DOCTOR BARRERO
Almost all of the kidneys are prime
specimens. Clearly they were taken
from very healthy, active
individuals. And, luckily, whoever
removed them was not just generous
but very skillful with a knife or
scalpel or some other kind of very
sharp object.
INT. HOSPITAL -- EXAMINATION ROOM
A typical doctor's office examination room.
Two NURSES in lab coats wearing scrubs sit at a table sorting
kidneys into six coolers that say "A" "B+" and "O+".
B-ROLL: The MALE NURSE holds a pile of six or seven kidneys
"stacked up" in his arms, like he's carrying a big bundle.
He's splattered with blood. The FEMALE NURSE is taking the
kidneys from him one by one. (ALT: He dumps all the kidneys
on the table at once.)
B-ROLL: One of the kidneys slides toward the edge of the
table, but a nurse catches it at the last minute.
ANCHOR (V.O.)
The hospital's medical technicians
have been working overtime to sort
through the donation.
THE SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE PLAYS AGAIN, in super slow
motion, just the shot of the donor hesitating and running
away.
The FEMALE NURSE at the table covered in kidneys is
interviewed. She has blood all over her gloves and scrubs.
FEMALE NURSE
The best part is that the selection
is amazing. The organs came from
individuals as young as four to as
old as eighty so there's really
quite a range.
FLASH CUT:
FEMALE NURSE (CONT'D)
(happily)
And as if just the kidneys wasn't
enough, whoever the donor is left a
note inside the bag that makes us
think they might be sending even
more donations like this soon. I
just wish I could shake his hand
and say "thank you."
B-ROLL: A bloody scrap of paper with "This is only the
beginning" scrawled on it in creepy handwriting.
ALTERNATE:
FEMALE NURSE (CONT'D)
Most of the time donations from
older individuals are more common,
but it's very rare to get kidneys
from so many young children in the
prime of their lives. We're
couldn't be more thrilled and we're
planning to rename the hospital
after him.
NOTE: We should also get this from the doctor.
INT. HOSPITAL -- LOBBY
ANCHOR (V.O.)
The hospital says they have no idea
what motivated the generous deed.
DOCTOR BARRERO
You know, it's just incredible to
think that this man brought a lot
more than just a sack full of
kidneys into this hospital...he
brought us a sack full of hope and
we'll never be able to repay him.
ALTERNATE:
DOCTOR BARRERO (CONT'D)
(happily)
Best of all, whoever the donor is
left a note inside the bag that
makes us think they might be
sending even more donations like
this soon, so we're very excited.
B-ROLL: A bloody scrap of paper with "This is only the
beginning" scrawled on it in creepy handwriting.
DOCTOR BARRERO (CONT'D)
We're hoping this incredible
donation will inspire other people
to start giving. Organ donations
are down across the board, but we
especially need hearts, lungs and
brains.
INT. NEWSROOM
ANCHOR
You know, they say the world is
getting colder, but every once and
a while there's a story that just
warms your heart. Next up...
NOTE: Here are extra b-roll shots that I'd like to get.
-The Janitor or some other character has his picture taken
with the sack of kidneys (ALT: Holding a kidney in each
hand.)
-The bag is almost empty, but just to be sure they turn it
upside down and shake it out... one or two more kidneys
tumble out.
-The nurses arrange the kidneys to spell out "Thank You!" or
a big smiley face.
-One of the nurses swings the sack up onto the counter and it
plops down with a sickening thud/squish of blood.
-The nurses take the kidneys from the sack to the sorting
table "chain gang" style, with one pulling them from the
sack, handing them to the other, the other plops them on the
table, etc.
-A bunch of blood drips off the table while the nurses chat
happily, smiling.
-A nurse tries to shut the lid on one of the kidney coolers,
but it's too overflowing with kidneys to close completely, so
she has to wrap tape around it to keep it shut. Blood drips
down the side.
-A nurse takes a big bunch of kidneys and uses the side of
his arm to rake them all off the side of the table into one
of the coolers (rather than placing them in one-by-one).
------------------------------------------------------
ALTERNATES
------------------------------------------------------
**ALTERNATE
FEMALE NURSE
A note inside the sack said, "Soon
my entire plan will be revealed."
So we're hoping that kidneys are
just the start of this donor's
generosity. Organ donations are
down across the board, but we
especially need hearts.
**ALTERNATE
FEMALE NURSE (CONT'D)
We really want to thank whoever's
responsible, but he left a note in
the sack that said, "You will never
find me.
Do not even try." So we're trying
to respect the donor's desire for
privacy.
**ALTERNATE
DOCTOR BARRERO
I can't even begin to imagine the
mindset of someone who would do
this. I just wish there were more
people like him out there.
**ALTERNATE
PRODUCTION NOTE: THIS WOULD ADD A PROP-- A BLOODY PIECE OF
PAPER WITH A PENTEGRAM.
DOCTOR BARRERO
The only clue to the identity of
our anonymous benefactor is this
symbol. Is it his family coat of
arms? We have no idea.
Doctor holds up a bloody piece of paper scrawled with
pentagram.
----
**ALTERNATE
ANCHOR (V.O.)
The hospital's renal surgery
department is one of the largest in
the entire Northeast, but declining
organ donations have kept it from
achieving its full potential.
Doctor Berrero said the bag's
arrival meant that things might
finally be looking up.
**ALTERNATES
DOCTOR BARRERO
You know, anyone can donate money.
This person has shown us how even
the poorest person with the right
attitude, dedication, and passion
can give a gift that is truly
priceless.
**ALTERNATES
FEMALE NURSE
I just know that there are so many
people on the waiting list that I'm
sure would have been perfectly
happy with any old kidney...now to
think that there's so many that
they can take their pick!
**ALTERNATES
FEMALE NURSE (CONT'D)
In my 28 years as a nurse, I've
never seen so many kidneys in one
place! (she holds two kidneys into
the air with her hands) It's like
Christmas in here.
---
NURSE
Whoever did this most have a very
kind-hearted, conscientious voice
in his head telling him to do these
things.
---
NURSE (CONT'D)
Hopefully this serves as an example
for others. But you don't need to
donate 200. Even 10 or 15 kidneys
makes a difference. Every little
bit counts.
---
ANCHOR (V.O.)
The hospital's renal surgery
department is one of the largest in
the entire Northeast, but even so,
waiting lists for organ are years
long. Doctor Berrero said the
bag's arrival meant that things
might finally be looking up.
---
NOTE: Here are extra b-roll shots that I'd like to get.
-The Janitor or some other character has his picture taken
with the sack of kidneys (ALT: Holding a kidney in each
hand.)
-The bag is almost empty, but just to be sure they turn it
upside down and shake it out... one or two more kidneys
tumble out.
-The nurses arrange the kidneys to spell out "Thank You!" or
a big smiley face.
-One of the nurses swings the sack up onto the counter and it
plops down with a sickening thud/squish of blood.
-The nurses take the kidneys from the sack to the sorting
table "chain gang" style, with one pulling them from the
sack, handing them to the other, the other plops them on the
table, etc.
-A bunch of blood drips off the table while the nurses chat
happily, smiling.
-A nurse tries to shut the lid on one of the kidney coolers,
but it's too overflowing with kidneys to close completely, so
she has to wrap tape around it to keep it shut. Blood drips
down the side.
-A nurse takes a big bunch of kidneys and uses the side of
his arm to rake them all off the side of the table into one
of the coolers (rather than placing them in one-by-one).
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