"EPISODE 1.20 - Revelations"

Written and produced By Alex Gregg. Copyrighted 2003-04.
Originally Aired March 29th 2004

Ashley:  Previously, on Chestaville High.

Dylan:   Ash, if you do wanna talk... just come and find me, yeah? And whatever it is, I promise, it'll stay between you and me. Okay?

Julie:   (stands up) Hello, Maria.

Maria:   (turns to her father) Wha-- what is she doing here?!

Julie:   I just want to be friends, here. 

Maria:   Well, maybe I don't... 

Julie:   Your remembering it wrong... 

Maria:   (voice slightly raised, angry) I remember waking up one morning, and you'd gone, I remember  the note on the table saying that you needed to get on with your life and for us to do the same, I remember dad not talking for weeks, I remember I was *seven* years old!

Julie:   You have a brother!

Maria:   So that's what this about?! You didn't come and find me because of me, you came because you need my help!

Ashley:   Hey... uh.. you know, at school today, you said, that if we talked, it would stay between the two of us?

Dylan:   Yeah. (Ashley looks at him, he gets it) Come on in.

Mr Harris:   Here, (Maria terns round and her dad hands her a white envelope) this is for you. Its form your mom. The reason she found us again, (sighs) it's all in there. (Maria takes it).

Maria looks at the envelope, goes over to sit on her bed, opens it and reads:

        Dear Maria.

        I realize that seeing me again today was a shock.
        Jamie has "CMML" (Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia).
        And is in need of an bone marrow transplant operation. 
        But for a donor to do this they must be a match.
        Maria, as Jamie's half sister there is a good chance
        that you could be the match he needs.

        I know this is asking a lot from you, considering that
        24 hours ago you didn't know you had a brother.
        Please get in touch as soon as you have made your
        decision and perhaps we can talk about it?
        I have also enclosed a photo of Jamie. 

Maria turns the envelope upside down and a small passport photo drops on to her bed. She picks it up and looks at the picture. It shows a small boy, roughly eight years old, with dark ginger/brown curtain style hair and green eyes smiling back up at her. The Camera slowly pulls back to show wider shot of Maria sitting on her bed looking at the photo.
 
  
  
Fade into Maria's Kitchen. She and her father are sitting down to dinner, eating in silence. The only sound being made is that of their knives and forks.

Mr Harris:   (brakes the silence) Do you want to talk about it? (Maria doesn't answer, she just shakes her head) It might help...

Maria:   (doesn't look up) I hate her. I hate her for what's she's done and now for what she's asking me to do. (goes back to eating).

Mr Harris:   You don't hate her, Maria. (she's quickly glances at him giving him a look of 'yes I do'. he sighs) I know that look, I stand corrected.

Maria:   (sighs) Did you know? That I had a brother?

Mr Harris:   Not until yesterday. 

Maria:   But you knew before I came in from school?

Mr Harris:   She told me everything before you got home, yeah. 

Maria:   (bitter tone) Thanks for sharing, dad, really.

Mr Harris:   Maria, it wasn't for me to tell you.

There's a long silence between them. 

Maria:   (not looking at her dad, quietly) You know, I worked it out... He's eight, right? (looks up) She's was pregnant before she left us, wasn't she?

Mr Harris:   (sighs) Yeah... she was...

Maria:   (angry) I knew it. I knew it.

Mr Harris:   Maria, it doesn't mean he's any less--

But at that moment she abruptly gets up and walks out of the kitchen. Her dad follows her.  Cut to the hall, Maria grabs her coat of the rack and heads for the stairs. Mr Harris behind her.

Mr Harris:   Maria... I know this is hard--

Maria:   (interrupts, turns to face him) I just need some space, okay? 

Mr Harris nods and watches his daughter head down the stairs, open the door, go out and close it behind her with a bang.
 
 

The Credits

Special Guest Stars: Dylan Matthews, Zak Williams, Abby Tumbridge
Guest Staring: Mr Harris, Julie Harris, Rick

 
Fade in to an exterior shot of Dylan's house, cut to his living room, Ashley is sitting on the sofa and Dylan on a chair opposite.

Dylan:   (gets up, Ashley watches him) Oh, man... (paces the room) 

Ashley:   Your wishing I never told you... right?

Dylan:   No. (sits back down) No, I'm not. Really. I'm glad you did. It's just--

Ashley:   You don't wanna get involved. I get that. It's okay.

Dylan:   Will you stop jumping to conclusions? I'm glad you told me. And I wanna help. Okay? (Ashley nods) Good... So, what do you want to do?

Ashley:   (sighs) I don't want to do anything about it.

Dylan:   Ashley, its verbal abuse...

Ashley:   Can we not use that word, here, please?!

Dylan:   What word?

Ashley:   (sighs) Abuse? He's not--

Dylan:   (interrupts) *Yes* he is!

Ashley:   Look, my mom loves him, okay? They're getting married, and I don't want to wreck that for her. I won't wreck it for her, okay?

Dylan:   (can't believe it) So, what? Meanwhile, you suffer in silence? Only another three years and you can move out?

Ashley:   Well, yeah... 

Dylan:   Ashley! That is not the answer. What if he goes further next time?

Ashley:   He won't. 

Dylan:   You *don't* know that! (there's along silence between them) Ashley, I think you should someone... at least Ling and Maria. I could say something to them, if you like...

Ashley:   (panicked) No! No way, I can't! And you can't either, you promised, you said if I came to you, it would stay between us! You promised! Look, Ling would totally freak out, a-and Maria, well, she'd do something stupid, and Rick would find out and, it would be bad, worse!

Dylan:   Okay, okay! Bad idea... So, what can I do to help? 

Ashley:   I don't know, I really don't... Maybe... Maybe right now, I just need someone to talk too? (looks up at him) Can you do that?

Dylan:   (nods, softly) Yeah, I can do that. 

Cut to the beach. "It doesn't matter" by Alison Krauss begins to play over the scene. It's almost dark now.  The camera pans from the sand over to the rocks and upwards to Maria sitting by herself. She's sitting at the "Dylan and Maria spot" - the place where Dylan took her in previous episodes.

Lyrics:  It doesn't matter what I want / It doesn't matter what I need

The camera pans in closer as she re-reads though her moms letter.

Lyrics:  It doesn't matter if I cry / Don't matter if I bleed

Maria folds up the letter and puts it back in her pocket.

Lyrics:  You've been on a road

She looks over at the ocean, with an unhappy expression.

Lyrics:  Don't know where it goes or where it leads...

The Camera pans in on her face then out again.

Lyrics:  It doesn't matter what I want / It doesn't matter what I need

She reaches into her pocket again and pulls out the picture of Jamie.

Lyrics:  It doesn't matter if I cry / Doesn't matter if I bleed...

She continues to look at the picture as the music fades out. Cut to the next day at Chestaville High. Fade to the gym. It's lunch, and the basketball team have practice. Maria and Ling are sitting bleachers watching the game, Ling is reading though Maria's letter, she hands it back.

Ling:   What are you gonna do? 

Maria:   Nothing. Screw her.

Ling:   Maria, it's not about her. It's about your brother. He could die... Your angry right now, and that's fine. But your mom's right, don't let your anger--

Maria:   (interrupts, snaps) What? How do you know that's what I'm doing?! 

Ling:   Because it obvious - and that's probably what I'd be doing too.

Maria:   (sighs) It's just... it feels like, why the hell should I? I don't owe her anything, or him for that matter... You know, I hated her for leaving me eight years ago... and now, I find out she she had another kid... and the only reason she came and found me again was to help him...

Ling:   I know. But, maybe you need to get past that, and look at it like this: a little boy is gonna die, and you may have the power to help him..

Seeing that Maria is thinking about what she has just said Ling turns back to watch the game, leaving her friend in her own in her thoughts.

Cut to the quad. Zak spots Ashley sitting under a tree. He goes over to her.

Zak:   Hey. Mind if I join you?

Ashley:   (looks up at him) Uh, sure. (moves her bag for him to sit).

Zak:   (sits) So...

Ashley:   So...

Zak:   (laughs) Well, that's an improvement I guess.

Ashley:   What?

Zak:   The last couple of times I've sat next to you you've bailed. I was starting to think I'd done something wrong... or maybe I smelt bad?

Ashley:   (laughs) No. To both. I've just had things on my mind lately...

Zak:   Yeah?

Ashley:   I don't really wanna talk about it? Sorry.

Zak:   Yeah. (shrugs, a little hurt, but covers it) Yeah, whatever.

Ashley:   Besides, don't you have your own problems? 

She glances over at Lorry, Gaz and Jake who are sitting on one of the benches laughing, looking in their direction, and obviously talking about Zak.

Zak:   Oh, yeah. Them... You heard then.

Ashley:   Yeah, Dylan told Maria, who told Ling and me. 

Zak:   Right.

Ashley:   So, what are you gonna do. To keep them off your back, I mean. 

Zak:   I have no idea.

At that moment they get up and walk towards Ashley and Zak.

Lorry:   Hey Zak.

Zak:   Uh, hey...

Gaz:   Don't look sorry worried, Zak-y, its not like we're gonna beat you up or nothing... well, not in front of your girlfriend anyway. Catch you later, bud. (the three of them laugh and walk away).

Ashley:   Geez, why do they have to be like that? Are you okay?

Zak:   Yeah. My male pride is a little flattened, but, hey...

Ashley gives him a sympathetic look.

Ashley Voice Over:  Oh, man... I feel so sorry for Maria right now. It must be hard for her, on the one hand she doesn't want anything to do with her mom, but on the other, she knows she has a little brother who needs her help. I think she wants to help him, but her anger towards her mom is stopping her. If it was me, I'd pretty much feel the same way. As for me? It's helped that some else knows about what's going on with Rick, at least now I have someone to talk to about it, and I don't feel quite as alone...

Cut to later. Maria looks up at the sign on over the door of a building. It says "The Buxli Hotel". She takes a deep breath and walks though the door. Cut to a hall. She knocks on the door of room "214". After a moment it opens.

Julie:   Maria...

Maria:   Hey.

Julie:   Uh, come in, come in.

She does so. Cut to them sitting at the small table. next to the door. The situation looks very strained between then. Maria starts off.

Maria:   Okay, so I've thought about it. (she pauses, her mom gestures for her to go on). And, uh... I'm not saying yes, yet... I wanna know what I'd have to do. What it would involve.

Julie:   (takes a deep breath) Okay. Well, if you agree to help, first you'd need to give a small blood sample to determine your tissue type. If it matches Jamie's, they'd ask for another blood sample to see whether you'd match well enough to be his actual donor. If that all goes okay, you'd then take physical exam to determine your health status. Of course, they'd talk you though the whole process.

Maria:   Okay, so, say that goes okay... and I can donate, I give Jamie some of my... bone marrow? What happens then? I mean, how do they do it?

Julie:   Well, the marrow collection process is done surgically, you'd go into hospital for a couple of days. After having general anesthetic, the doctor will make an incision through the skin on the lower back, then hollow needles will be inserted into the pelvic bones. The doctor will then attach a syringe to the needle and draw out your marrow.

Maria:   Sounds nice and painful...

Julie:   I think the donor usually feel a little sore for a few days... Maria I'm glad you came this far. To come and talk to me, I mean.

Maria:   Yeah well, my conscience got the better of me. I just want to make this clear. I'm doing this for Jamie. It's got nothing to do with you.

Julie:   Maria--

Maria:   (interrupts) Don't. Okay? I don't want this to get personal between us. Our relationship was over when you walked out. (sees her mom is hurt by those words, but doesn't care) So, He's really sick?

Julie:   Yes.

Maria:   And this this operation, it'll save Jamie's life?

Julie:   Yes. The doctors are pretty certain that if we find a donor soon he make a full recovery. If his body don't reject the new cells.

Maria:   Okay. I'll do it.

Julie:   (smiles) Oh, Maria! Thank you. Thank you.

Maria:   Yeah. Whatever. So what happens now?

Julie:   Well, I'll get in touch with Jamie's doctors and they'll give you call, and we'll go from there. I think it'll be a few months before the actual operation. They'll need to talk through it, perform certain test etcetera...

Maria:   Operation? I might not even be a match.

Julie:   Yeah, but we have to hope, right? 

Maria:   So, you'll tell Jamie I've agreed?

Julie:   Uh, well... not right away, no.

Maria:   (gets it) He doesn't know I exist, does he?! (gets up).

Julie:   (gets up also) Maria, think about it. What is the point of me telling him he has a sister, for all I know you could have said no, straight out. And not wanted anything to do with him. I didn't want him to have to deal with that disappointment at eight years old.

Maria:   (angry) It seems to me that he's had to deal with a lot worse.

Julie:   Exactly, and I didn't want to add to that. I'll tell him. 

Fade to later. Ashley, Ling an Maria are walking along the beach.

Ling:   So, your going to do it, huh?

Maria:   Yup. It's all going ahead, Julie's going to talk to Jamie's doctor's and there going to phone me and talk to me about it.

Ling:   Wait, don't you have to be eighteen to be a donor?

Maria:   Usually, yeah, but there are exceptional cases...

Ashley:   So, when did you decide, where was I? 

Maria:   Well, I actually decided when I was talking to Julie. As for where you've been latley, that's anyone's guess...

Ashley:   Yeah. Yeah, I know I've been kinda distant...

Ling:   Kinda?

The girls stop and sit down on the sand, looking out over the ocean.

Ashley:   Look, I'm fine now, okay? I'm back with you guys.

Maria:   (sarcastically) Good too know...

Ling:   So, what's changed, then?

Ashley:   Nothing. It doesn't matter (to Maria) Hey, aren't we supposed to be talking about you, anyway? 

Ling and Maria look at each other and decided to drop the subject.

Ling:   (to Maria) So, how did you leave it with your mom?

The girls continue to chat as we fade to into Ashley's room, she's laying on her bed doing homework. Suddenly the door opens and Rick walks in.

Ashley:   (sits up) Rick, can't you knock?

Rick:   Are you going to come and do the dishes?

Ashley:   Yeah, I'm just finishing my homework first.

Rick:   I want them done before your mother gets home. (turns to leave).

Ashley:   (mutters) So you can say you done them yourself...

Rick:   (turns back to face her, angry) What?!

Ashley:   Nothing...

Walks slowly back towards her looking very annoyed. Ashley swallows.

Rick:   (angry) *What* have I told you about your attitude? (Ashley doesn't say anything, she just looks up at him). Down stairs. Now.

Ashley:   (bravely) I've got homework.

Rick:   (picks up her book and throws it across the room with out taking his eyes off Ashley, it almost hits diesel, slowly and dangerously) Do. It. later. (he points to the door) Dishes, now. (Ashley doesn't move) Ashley, (he roughly grabs her arm and pulls her off the bed to stand up) I'm not going to stand for this in my house!

Ashley:   Well, then I guess it's a good thing I'm not * in* your house!

The furious look on Rick's face shows Ashley that she went too far. He slaps her across the face, Ashley yelps and puts her hand to her cheek.

Rick:   (looks surprised by what he's just done but it soon passes) I'll expect you down stairs and in the kitchen in five minutes.

With that he turns on his heal and walks out, closing the door behind him. Ashley bursts into tears. Diesel walks over to the bed, sits down and whines.

Ashley Voice Over:  Well, I think Maria made the right choice. I think she's got past most of the anger, and realizing the fact that she does have a sibling. I'm not sure how her anger towards her mom will affect it, but I guess we'll see. And me? I'm glad I told Dylan, I really am. I think it's helped, but after what's just happened... (sighs) He was right, Rick did go further this time, he hit me. I'm scared. I don't know what he'll do next. Something's telling me to hide this from Dylan... I just don't know what to do...