Robin's Speech at the 1997 Nurses' Ball

As Robin takes the microphone, she looks out at everyone, smiling broadly.
Robin:  "Gosh…You all look so beautiful."

Alan (yelling from the audience):  "So do you, sweetheart."

Robin (chuckling):  "Thanks. I’ve got to tell you... I couldn’t not be here tonight. It means a lot to me to be here. Two years ago,(her expression changes to one of wistful sadness). I sat right over there with the boy that I loved, knowing that he had AIDS and it would kill him. Not that I let myself dwell on it. Not then. We only had so much time, you see, so it had to be about the living, no the dying. I understood that. I understood that there was no hope. And then I was diagnosed.
    I’ll never forget the way I felt when I heard those words. The air surged out of me, and every hope I had for the future was gone. I mean, I knew that I could live longer than Stone, and that I could have a better quality of life if I took the right medication… But Robin the wife, Robin the doctor, the mother, the grandmother…?  Gone.

But this year(a smile starts creeping back onto her face)--this incredible year—finally there’s hope. All those dreams I had for myself? (almost laughing) They’re suddenly mine again! And it’s because of people like you—because of the commitment and the dedication of the people like you, who fund the research and who support the programs. Now we’re at a place where we can look out, and we can see the future. (she’s starting to get teary, and her voice catches in her throat, but she’s still smiling).Where we can have hope again. And it makes my heart full, (pauses, he face getting serious again)and it makes it heavy-—because there are so many people are not with us tonight, that didn’t get to see this view. Like Stone, like Jon Hanly. But we are not home free—not by a long shot.

All of us have a continuing responsibility in the fight against AIDS. Those of us who are on the Protocol must commit to sticking with the program, and getting as healthy as possible. Those who are HIV negative must commit to abolishing ignorance about the virus and to discrimination against those who carry it. And all of us must reaffirm our dedication to teaching, to safer sex, and to funding medical research. And above all, never, ever give up until we have a cure. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving me hope. That’s the greatest miracle of all."

The audience begins to applaud, and Robin walks offstage smiling, and hands the microphone to Lucy.

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