Edmund (on the phone): "Yes, any materials that you have that you could send over, I'd appreciate it. Uh-huh. Yeah, I realize that." (Alex then walks into his office without knocking) "Listen, can I call you back? Thank you." (He hangs up and shuffles through more papers, not looking up at her as he knows she's mad.)

Alexandra (motioning to the phone): "What are you doing?"

Edmund: "Anything I can to save my brother's life."

Alexandra: "Yeah, I got a call from Dr. Silbert saying you've be contacting other doctors and hospitals trying to find out about stem cell therapy?"

Edmund (finally looking at her): "Yes, I have."

Alexandra: "You have to stop."

Edmund: "It could save Dimitri's life."

Alexandra: "We've been through this."

Edmund: "Yes, yes, I know, I know... experimental stem cell therapy is in its infancy."

Alexandra: "Yes, it is."

Edmund: "Yes, but that means there's a chance it could work."

Alexandra: "Even if he lives, we don't know what we're getting into. This therapy's never been
used on a case like Dimitri's. How can we take that kind of chance with his life?"

Edmund: "How can we not?"

The scene fades out, then returns. Edmund gets up and walks around the desk to her.
Edmund: "You know, when I nearly died in that aqueduct, my brother put his life on the line to save mine. Now, you can be damn sure I'm going to do everything I can to save his. Now, if that includes experimental therapy, so be it."

Alexandra (pointing a finger at him): "Yesterday you accused me and Dr. Silbert of experimenting on my own husband. And now, today, you're willing to volunteer him for God knows what."

Edmund (defensive): "I was wrong, all right? That was before I saw my brother alive. Now, I will do anything to keep him with us."

Alexandra: "We can't make this decision out of desperation. Now, I know what happens when
experimental therapies are used before they've been through the appropriate trials. They can sometimes be more harmful, Edmund."

Edmund: "Alex, if we don't do this, my brother dies." (There's a moment of silence between the two of them.)

Alexandra: "Dying isn't the worst thing that can happen to him." (Silence again.) "This therapy could accelerate his
deterioration. There could be severe side effects that would further debilitate him. Do you want that to happen?"

Edmund (interrupts, raising his voice. He goes over and shuts the door, closes the blinds, then turns back to her) : "Alex... you are the pioneer in this type of research. I don't get you. I mean, the drug you were using on him before, I mean, that was experimental. So I don't understand... why are you so reluctant?"

Alexandra: "For the same reason that you're so eager. We're talking about the life of someone we love."

Edmund: "Look, isn't there evidence that some of this experimental therapy works?"

Alexandra: "Yes, of course there is. But there are so many variables. It takes years to get the kinks out of procedures like this." (Then in a more stern voice.) "I don't want my husband to suffer because we make a rash decision."

Edmund: "I don't think we have time for medical science to perfect its technique. I'm sorry, but I think we should go ahead with stem cell therapy and... look, I will take full responsibility..."

Alexandra (exasperated): "I don't want this."

Edmund (almost yelling): "I will take full... listen, we're going to lose him in a minute. Alex, I thought you said you loved my brother."

Alexandra (angry): "I do love him."

Edmund: "Well, if you do, then how can you possibly live with yourself if you don't do everything you can to save him?"

The scene fades out, then returns later.
Edmund: "Alex, let me tell you something about my brother. He's a fighter. Now, he's not going to give up. And he's not the type to give in. Or to go gentle..." (He pauses.) "... we got to give him a chance to beat death."

Alexandra: "When we used to ride together in London, he would gallop. And at restaurants he would order one of everything. And when he loves you, he just loves with his whole heart." (She smiles briefly.) "You know that. Compromise is not a word in his vocabulary." (She throws her head back and shakes her head, then paces the room.) "Oh. All right, if this therapy succeeded in keeping him alive, his quality of life would be severely compromised. Are you all right with doing that to him?"

Edmund: "He would have our love and support and we would help him through whatever he would have to go through."

Alexandra (frustrated he's missing her point about the quality of life Dimitri might have, she throws her hands on his head): "Hmm. But he's already made it perfectly clear... he does not want to be an invalid. He doesn't want to be a burden on his family."

Edmund: "He wouldn't be a..."

Alexandra (interrupts, raising her voice): "What I think he's really frightened of is being a burden on himself. All right, so say we do go ahead with this therapy and it does prolong his life. It's not going to cure him. He's already suffered short-term memory loss and impaired motor skills. Chances are that he's always going toe totally dependent. He's never going to be able to live his life the way he wants. And it's just so cruel."

Edmund: "I want my brother alive."

Alexandra: "We both do. Don't you see that we are being selfish here? If we can't save him completely, then maybe we should just honor his wishes and love him. Just... love him. Until the end."

Edmund: "How can you say that?"

Alexandr (about in tears): "I don't know. But maybe the greatest act of love is... is to let him go."

Edmund: "I can't accept that."

Alexandra (starting to get mad again): "Oh. You'd rather take the chance of him living out his worst nightmare, would you?" (They're interrupted when a furious Adam barges into the room and slams the door.)

The scene fades out, then returns later. A confused Alex is staring over Edmund's shoulder at Adam.
Adam: "Edmund, we need to talk."

Edmund: "I'm with someone."

Adam: "I don't care if you're with the pope. How dare you try to railroad my wife into making a decision that could jeopardize our child."

Alexandra (to Edmund): "What have you done?"

Adam (glaring at Alex): "Who are you?"

Alexandra (surprised): "What?"

Edmund: "This is... Adam Chandler, this is Alexandra Marick, Dimitri's wife."

Adam: "Dimitri's wife. Are you part of this scheme?"

Edmund (pointing at Adam): "Hey, just back off, all right? She has nothing to do with this."

Adam (looking at Alex): "All right, I apologize."

Alexandra: "Thank you. Would somebody please tell me what's happened?"

Adam: "He's trying to coerce my wife into donating our daughter's stem cells."

Edmund: "No, I didn't coerce, okay? I just merely asked if it was possible."

Alexandra: "You have already asked someone to donate cells without talking to me?"

Adam: "So you've gone behind her back as well as mine. What the hell are you thinking?"

Edmund: "I'm trying to save my brother's life. Wouldn't you do the same thing for Stuart?"

Adam: "Of course. But that's not the point."

Edmund: "That is exactly the point. Keeping my brother alive is my priority."

Adam: "No, no, the point is, why Colby? There has to be other means to get stem cells."

Edmund: Yes, there are. There is a national registry, but we're running into a time problem, Adam. Now, listen, when I found out that Colby's stem cells had been harvested, I naturally thought, "Ok, I'll ask Liza." And I in no way, I swear, intended to pressure her."

Adam: "Very well. I wish Dimitri the best. But we saved those cells for my daughter's well-being, not for some medical experiment."

Alexandra: "Edmund, leave it. You can't proceed without Adam's permission." (She nods at him.)

Edmund (looks at her for a moment, then turns slowly to face Adam): "You need the permission of the biological father. And that would be Jake Martin, wouldn't it?"

Adam (reluctantly): "Yes."

Edmund: "Ok, so the decision is up to Jake and Liza."

Adam: "Hmm. You still say this isn't coercion? My daughter comes first. And I will protect her. Whatever it takes." (He glares at them both before storming out of the room. Alex lets out a sigh of relief.)

The scene fades out, then back again. Alex goes over and shuts the door, then turns back angrily at Edmund.
Alexandra: "You go out soliciting cell donations without a bloody word to me."

Edmund: "I saw an opportunity and I took it."

Alexandra: "Well, that was wrong."

Edmund: "No, I disagree."

Alexandra: "And to put a friend in such a position."

Edmund (Waves his hand dismissively): "What are you worried about? Adam? I'll take care of him later."

Alexandra: "You can't go raging around town strong-arming people like that."

Edmund: "Look, Alex... Alex, every minute that we spend arguing is a minute less that we can try to save Dimitri's life."

Alexandra: "Or prolong it in a way he wouldn't want."

Edmund: "You know, a while ago, you asked me to trust you. I'm asking the same of you." (He sighs.)

Alexandra: Well, you didn't follow that advice, did you?"

Edmund (pleading with her): "Maybe I was wrong, okay? Alex, we're in this together, you and me. Can you trust me on this?"

Alexandra: "I just don't know if it's what he would want."

Edmund: "We may never know what Dimitri wants. Please, trust me." (The phone then rings and Edmund answers it.) "Hello? Yeah, how is he? This is his brother, yeah. Hold on." (He holds the phone out to Alex.) "It's Silbert. He won't talk to anybody but you."

Alexandra (takes the phone and speaks into it): "Hello, Dr. Silbert. What's going on? Okay." (She hangs up quietly, not facing Edmund.)

Edmund: "Alex, how is he? Any improvement?"

Alexandra (slowly turning to face him): "He's lapsed into a coma."

Edmund: "Oh God."

Alexandra: "Yeah, the... the medication I've been giving him, it's not working anymore. This is what I was afraid of."

The scene fades out, then returns later. The setting switches to the hospital where Liza and Jake are deciding if they want to give some of Colby's stem cells to Dimitri. They're both seated at a table.
Liza: "Are you comfortable with this?"

Jake: "Well, why don't we wait and see what Alex and Edmund have to say. Maybe we don't have all the facts." (Just then Edmund and Alex rush in.)

Edmund: "Liza, Jake, this is Alexandra Marick, Dimitri's wife." (Liza and Jake rise. Liza shakes Alex's hand.)

Alexandra: "Hi."

Liza: "Hi, finally. Nice to meet you."

Alexandra: "I wish it was under better circumstances, though."

Jake: "So, how is Dimitri?"

Edmund: "He's taken a turn for the worse, I'm afraid."

Liza: "No. I'm sorry."

Alexandra (somberly): "Um. He's in a coma. He's failing."

Jake: "Well, then there's no time to look to the national registry for a compatible donor. We'll have to do it now."

Edmund: "You're right, there isn't time. This is it. Have you decided?" (He looks hopefully from Liza to Jake.) "Will you donate Colby's stem cells?"

Jake (to Alex): "Are you sure this is what you want to do?" (They all stare at Alex.)

Alexandra: "I don't know. A few hours ago I don't think I would have agreed. But now..." (She looks up briefly at Edmund before turning back to Jake and Liza.) "I'm not sure if it's what he wants. But I want to save my husband."

Jake: "Well, let's do it."

Alexandra (smiles gratefully at Liza and shakes her hand): "Thank you. Thank you very much. (Edmund shakes Jake's hand. Everyone moves back over to the table.)

Edmund: You have no idea how much this means to us." (He pulls out the consent form from his shirt pocket and smoothes it out for the signatures. Jakes picks up a pen ready to sign, when unknown to all, Adam comes in behind them.)