Changes in Script

This is pertaining to Henry and Cass's character only.

Extract of pages 29-30 of Script:



(Katie nods her head. Henry leads her off stage. Cassandra sits there at a table in shock of what to do. She stands up and begins rearranging everything on the table. Henry walks back in and notices what she’s doing. He holds her hand and pulls her to sit down. They sit there in silence.)

Cass: I should have known. I should have known.

Henry: You couldn’t have! You heard what Dr. Joseph said. It’s only diagnosed after it has spread throughout the body!

Cass: Stop!

Henry: No listen! We couldn’t have known.

Cass: But...

Henry: Cass. We couldn’t have known.

Cass: (Stands up in agitation with herself.) I wasn’t observant enough Henry! I wasn’t! I was too focused with work! You were too focused in work! What kind of parents are we if we couldn’t even see the signs?

Henry: But Dr. Joseph said that even if the signs we had read were not enough to diagnose this! Katie’s tummy aches could have been symptoms for other diseases too!

Cass: But they’re not, are they Henry? (Angrily) Katie doesn’t have some common disease! Katie’s got Neuroblastoma! Katie’s got cancer!

(Silence between the two of them.)

Cass: (Weakly.) My baby’s got cancer.

Henry: Everything will be okay.

Cass: No it won’t Henry.

Henry: We couldn’t have known. Dr. Joseph explained that Neuroblastoma is hard to diagnose in early stages because the symptoms are similar to most other common illness in children. It was difficult to diagnose Cass! Neuroblastoma is usually discovered at stage 3 or stage 4.

Cass: (Sobs). What if Dr. Joseph is wrong.

Henry: He’s done the checks Cass. He’s not wrong.
Cass: I never thought this would happen. Not to us; never to us.

Henry: No one does Cass. But we’re affected now and we’ve got to do the best that we can.

Cass: It’s a lot Henry. The treatments, the surgeries to remove the Tumors, the medications...

Henry: It’s a lot, I know. But we’ll do it one step at a time.

Cass: (Repeats him dully) One step at a time.

Henry: Yes. (Squeezes her hand.) Come on. We should sleep. We’ll be able to think better in the morning and plan all this out.

Cass: I’ll come in awhile.

(Henry kisses the top of Cass’ head.)