Narrator:

Ryan and his mother are at his sister Andrea's skating practice. Suddenly Ryan starts coughing; he can barely talk.

Ryan:

Mom, can we leave early? I don't feel too good.

Jeanne:

What's wrong, Ryan?

Ryan:

I don't know. I just felt kind of funny right now.

Jeanne:

I hope you're not coming down with a cold. We'd better go home.

Narrator:

A few days later, Ryan steps off the school bus. He feels weak and feverish. He struggles to make it home. He finds his mother in the kitchen cooking dinner.

Ryan (scared):

Mom ...

Jeanne:

Ryan? You can barely breathe. I'm taking you to the hospital. Right now!

Narrator:

Jeanne is at the hospital waiting for Ryan's test results.

Dr. Kleiman:

Mrs. White, what I've found isn't normal. It's a virus that damages the body's immune system. I'm afraid Ryan's ... got AIDS. I'm sorry, Mrs. White.

Jeanne:

(shocked): You must be mistaken. My son could never get AIDS!

Dr. Kleiman:

Ryan is a hemophiliac. We know he was getting blood. The AIDS virus was probably passed to him through infected blood.

Jeanne (shocked):

Oh my God! That means he is going to die.

Dr. Kleiman:

Mrs. White, we're not sure how long Ryan will live. But a lot depends on his willingness to fight.

Narrator:

The next day, Jeanne visits Ryan in the hospital.

Jeanne:

(almost crying) Ryan, we need to talk. I spoke to the doctor about your test results.

Ryan:

What's wrong with me, Mom?

Jeanne:

Ryan... (pauses)

Ryan:

Mom, just tell me.

Jeanne:

(holding him) You have AIDS.

Ryan:

Am I going to die?

Jeanne:

No, Ryan, You're are not going to die. You are going to get better.

Ryan:

(scared) But, don't people with AIDS die. I don't want to die! (pauses) I need some time to be alone!

Narrator:

It is a couple of weeks later, Jeanne turns her car into the driveway past Ryan. He is riding his bicycle.

Jeanne:

Take it easy, Ryan.

Ryan:

Don't worry, Mom. I'm feeling great.

Jeanne:

Come in when you're finished. We've got to talk about going back to school.

Ryan:

(excited) Good! When do I go back?

Jeanne:

Ryan, there's a problem. I'm afraid they don't want you to go back. They say you're too sick.

Ryan:

But I'm not sick.

Jeanne:

People are afraid of AIDS.

Ryan:

But nobody can catch it from me. I can't give it to anybody.

Jeanne:

I told them. They won't listen.

Ryan:

So how am I supposed to learn anything if I can't go to school? I've got to go back. I am going back!

Narrator:

The next day Ryan and his friend Heath are folding newspapers for their paper route.

Ryan:

You know what? They won't let me go to school.

Heath:

What? Everybody has to go to school.

Ryan:

Not me. (sarcastic) I'm too dangerous.

Heath:

That's crazy. Listen, Ryan, I know it may not seem like it but people do care.

Ryan:

Sure. As long as they don't have to be near me.

Narrator:

A week later, Jeanne and Ryan visit a lawyer.

Mr. Vaughn:

Ryan, your mother told me that the school is refusing to let you return. Are you really sure you want to go to that school?

Ryan:

I like school. I miss my friends.

Jeanne:

Mr Vaughn, I'm not sure that I can afford to pay for a lawyer.

Mr. Vaughn:

(interrupting) Mrs. White, sometimes lawyers want to take a case for free. Especially when the client is right! (to Ryan) We're going to teach that school a lesson.

Narrator:

A group of parents have learned of Ryan's plans to return to school. They meet at the school.

School Doctor:

What we know is that the AIDS virus lives in blood. It can only be passed through sexual contact or if infected blood gets into your bloodstream. You can't get it by touching the same objects or being in the same room.

Mrs. Johnson:

Oh yeah? Then why did the police wear gloves when they arrested that guy with AIDS the other day?

School Doctor:

I'm not sure.

Mrs. Johnson:

I don't care what you doctor's say. We've got to protect our children. I'm keeping that kid out of school!

Narrator:

Later that week, Mr. Vaughn, Ryan, and Jeanne meet at the courthouse.

Mr. Vaughn:

I've checked the law. To get Ryan back in school, we have to prove his right to an education is being violated.

Narrator:

Inside, the courtroom is packed. Mrs. Johnson and other parents are there.

Mr. Vaughn:

Your Honor, Ryan should be in school. AIDS is not passed by casual contact. There's no reason to keep him at home.

School Attorney:

Your Honor, in Indiana, a student with a contagious disease may be kept out of school. Their lawyer must prove in court that Ryan isn't a danger to other students.

Judge:

I've listened to both sides. I will decide very soon.

Narrator:

That night, Mrs. Johnson is passing around a petition in the neighborhood.

Woman:

Why should I sign this?

Mrs. Johnson:

You know what kids are like. All kinds of accidents can happen. It's too risky to have that boy with AIDS in school.

Woman:

Ryan is my paper boy. Can I get AIDS from my paper?

Mrs. Johnson:

We're not sure. Sign the petition. Do it for your child until we know more.

Narrator:

It is the next day. Ryan has just heard on the radio that the judge won't let him go back to school. His mother walks into his bedroom.

Ryan:

How come you didn't tell me we lost?

Jeanne:

(sadly) We didn't lose the case, Ryan. The case is being delayed. Mr. Vaughn thinks they're going to drag this out in court as long as they can ... because ...

Ryan:

They think I'll die. Right?

Jeanne:

(crying) I don't know what they think. (holding Ryan) Ryan, are you sure about fighting this? People are confused. They might do or say anything.

Ryan:

Don't worry, Mom. I'll show them. I am not going to die! I am not giving up!

Narrator:

The next day, Jeanne and Ryan go shopping for groceries.

Cashier:

That will be $18.50.

Jeanne:

Here's a twenty.

Narrator:

Jeanne hands money to the cashier. The cashier sees Ryan.

Cashier:

You're that kid with AIDS. Don't touch me. And I'm not touching your money.

Narrator:

The cashier drops the money and throws their change on the counter. Ryan and Jeanne pick up their groceries and leave.

Narrator:

That night, Ryan is with his girlfriend, Sue. He reaches for her hand. She pulls it away.

Ryan:

Sue, what's wrong?

Sue:

Ryan, my mom thinks it's better if... we're not so close anymore. I'm sorry.

Narrator:

Ryan is crushed. He walks home alone. His mother is sitting in the living room.

Ryan:

(sadly) Mom? Will you promise me something. When I die, don't bury me in this town. I hate this place.

Jeanne:

(comforting Ryan) I'm so sorry about all this, Ryan. Some people are just ignorant. They don't know the facts about AIDS. They just don't understand.

Narrator:

It is several weeks later. Ryan, Jeanne, Mrs. Johnson, and many other parents crowd the courtroom.

Mr. Vaughn:

Your Honor, we have had months of testimony. And no evidence Ryan is a danger to other students.

School Attorney:

As long as a child has a contagious disease, the law does not permit him to attend school. It's the law!

Judge:

Unfortunately, the law isn't clear about this type of case. Therefore, I'm keeping Ryan out of school.

Narrator:

A group of parents begin to cheer wildly.

Mrs. Johnson:

We won! We won!

Narrator:

Reporters from all over surround Ryan and Jeanne.

Reporter:

How do you feel, Mrs. White?

Jeanne:

(holding Ryan) I just can't believe this.

Reporter:

Are you going to fight?

Mr. Vaughn:

Of course, we're going to fight.

Narrator:

That night, Ryan destroys his bedroom. Jeanne runs in.

Ryan:

(angry) I don't care anymore! If they don't want me, then I don't want their lousy school!

Jeanne:

Ryan, honey, I know how you feel. But don't give up. Mr. Vaughn has an idea. He wants to try a different judge in another court. You are going back to school! One way or another, I promise you!

Narrator:

A few days later, Ryan, Jeanne, and Mr. Vaughn are back in court. This time they present their case to a new judge.

Judge:

Gentlemen, I have reviewed the facts. I don't see why Ryan can't go to school.

School Attorney:

But, Your Honor!

Jeanne:

We won? I can't believe it!

Narrator:

The next morning, Ryan walks into his school. Students stare at him.

Principal:

Good morning, Ryan. Are you ready for today?

Ryan:

Don't worry. I know what we agreed to. I'll only use the private john, in the back. And I promise to use paper plates and plastic forks, and throw them away when I'm done. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I won't use the water fountains, either.

Narrator:

That weekend, Jeanne takes Ryan to a new house in another town.

Jeanne:

So. What do you think?

Ryan:

Whose house is it?

Jeanne:

Ours! The bank gave me a loan. We're leaving that horrible town. And no school is going to treat you that way again.

Ryan:

But, Mom

Jeanne:

Ryan, don't you see? People do care. This town wants us. They want you.

Narrator:

It is Ryan's first day at his new school. Jeanne has driven Ryan to the front entrance. About 50 students and some teachers are waiting outside.

Ryan:

(nervous) Well, here we go again.

Jeanne:

It can't be worse than it was, Ryan. The principal said he has told the students about you.

Narrator:

Ryan slowly heads toward the school. Jeanne watches nervously from the car.

Principal:

(shaking Ryan's hand) Welcome to school, Ryan.

Student:

Hi, I'm Glen. I'll take you to your first class. Do you want to have lunch with me and some of the guys today?

Ryan:

(smiling broadly) Sure!

Narrator:

Ryan turns and waves to his mother. Now he is ready for his first day of school.