THIS WORLD Kidneys For Sale Tx Date: 31st October 2006 This script was made from audio tape – any inaccuracies are due to voices being unclear or inaudible 10.00.00 This World Theme Music 10.00.06 Music 10.00.06 Title Page Kidneys For Sale 10.00.17 Narrator Tehran; capital of Iran and home to over eleven million people. 10.00.22 Music 10.00.27 Telephone rings 10.00.30 Man at desk Subtitle Hello? Man on phone Subtitle Hello, Sir. Mister, I wanted to buy a kidney. Man at desk Subtitle Buy? 10.00.35 Man on phone Subtitle Buy, sell, whichever. Man at desk Subtitle Buy, sell - which one is it? 10.00.40 Man on phone Subtitle I want to sell. Man at desk Subtitle Why did you say “buy” then? 10.00.43 Man at door Subtitles Hello. I wanted to see if I could sell my kidney. 10.00.45 Man at desk Subtitle How old are you? Man at door Subtitle 24 years old. 10.00.47 Man at desk Subtitle Where are you from? Man at door Subtitle Tehran. 10.00.51 Man at desk Subtitles Have you got your wife’s consent? Man at door Subtitle Yes. 10.00.53 Man at desk Subtitles Why do you want to sell your kidney? 10.00.55 Man at door Subtitles We’ve got some financial problems. I want to sell it to see if I can solve them. 10.01.00 Man at desk Subtitles How much do you need? How much is your debt? 10.01.03 Woman at door Subtitle How much do they pay? 10.01.05 Man at desk Subtitles It depends. The state pays £600, the recipient pays £900 - £1,200, you’ll get about £1,800. 10.01.11 Woman at door Subtitles £1,800? I heard they give about £3,000-£3,500. 10.01.14 Man at desk Subtitles You won’t get £3,000-£3,500. 10.01.16 Narrator Like forty percent of Iranian’s Mehrdad has trouble paying for the basic things in life. He recently lost his job and is now in danger of losing his home. 10.01.25 Music 10.01.27 Notice on wall Subtitles “Attention! Urgent! Kidney donation. Blood type A positive.” 10.01.32 Narrator He wants a new job as a taxi driver and intends to sell one of his kidneys to fund it. 10.01.37 Music 10.01.39 Man Subtitles How old are you? Where do you live? 10.01.40 Mehrdad Subtitle I’m 23 and I live in Tehran. Man Subtitle Read the conditions. 10.01.46 Mehrdad Subtitles I meet these conditions. Can I go in? 10.01.50 Man Subtitles Go in the first unit; the transplant unit 10.01.56 Narrator In Iran buying and selling kidneys is perfectly legal; the whole process is regulated by the state. 10.02.09 Woman at desk Subtitle Did you bring your test results? 10.02.11 Mehrdad Subtitle No, I still need to get them done. 10.02.13 Narrator Before he can donate Mehrdad must pay a hundred and sixty pounds for tests to prove that his kidney is OK. If it’s not its going to get him a hundred and sixty pounds further into debt. 10.02.30 Mehrdad Voice over After I stopped working on the underground, after I finished my job that was the worst period. We had no money, couldn’t pay the rent, there was pressure from the landlord and other creditors. Really there was nothing more I could do until I could find the job I wanted, my debts would just grow. I really wasn’t able to do anything about it. Without my knowledge, Maryam had taken tests for kidney selling but because she was pregnant she couldn’t go through with it. When she told me about it I got the idea of doing it myself. 10.03.17 Asghar Seyh Voice over Why do you want to donate your kidney? 10.03.21 Mehrdad Voice over My reason for wanting to do this is that I need three thousand pounds urgently. I need it to sort out my house and my life. 10.03.34 Aston ASGHAR SEYH Clinic Manager Voice over With regard to the sum of money you need, regretfully, we cannot solve your problem, not so much us but the patient can’t solve your problem. There is a young lady; she’s from the city of Semnan. She’s had transplant with us already but she needs to do it a second time and she’s ready now. I’m not saying your kidney isn’t worth what you want. If your blood group were different I could probably solve your problem and give you another patient. 10.04.08 Mehrdad Voice over If I could just get more than the price you quoted me, five hundred pounds or even two hundred and fifty more, I could make a new start in life. 10.04.18 Music 10.04.20 Narrator Now Mehrdad must wait while the clinic’s bureaucracy takes its course. 10.04.24 Music 10.04.28 Man with white hair Subtitles You’re talking too much. Give others a chance. You’re repeating yourself. 10.04.32 Young man Subtitles Other people need to do their business too. 10.04.35 Man with white hair Subtitles Yes, but you keep repeating yourself. 10.04.37 Music 10.04.38 Narrator Sohaila is twenty-seven and also wants to sell one of her kidneys. Since her father died six years ago she’s had to support her two younger sisters. 10.04.46 Music 10.04.51 Sohaila Voice over I work from six in the morning until eight at night but my salary doesn’t meet our needs. As well as supporting myself I have to support my sisters. I was turned down for a loan by several different places but even the ones that did say yes wanted to take advantage of me. Their ideas were disgusting. In official offices, even government places, there were people who said; ‘you don’t need any help, with your looks you could pay off your loans in a month’. I wanted to be sick when I had to listen to them telling me this. 10.05.32 Sohaila Voice over So I went to someone else who would lend me the money. I arranged to pay it back in six months but I wasn’t able to. And now if I don’t pay in two weeks my problems will land me in jail. 10.05.48 Music 10.05.52 Subtitle “Association of Kidney Patients” 10.05.55 Receptionist Subtitles Because you have no consent and the hospital needs to be 100% sure, we must send you to a psychologist. 10.06.01 Sohaila Subtitle Why to a psychologist? 10.06.02 Receptionist Subtitles The psychologist must confirm that you were in control of your faculties when you made this decision. 10.06.10 Sohaila Subtitle Will I get the results straight away? 10.06.12 Receptionist Subtitles Yes, they’ll just ask a few questions. 10.06.15 Telephone ringing 10.06.18 Man at desk Subtitle Yes? 10.06.19 Man on phone Subtitles I wanted to donate my kidney – what’s your address? 10.06.23 Man at desk Subtitle How old are you? Man on phone Subtitle 25. 10.06.25 Man at desk Subtitles Can you get your parents’ consent? 10.06.27 Man on phone Subtitle I don’t have a father. Man at desk Subtitle Did he pass away? 10.06.30 Man on phone Subtitle Yes. Man at desk Subtitles May God have mercy on his soul. What about your mother? Man on phone Subtitle My mother? But I’m an adult. 10.06.35 Man at desk Subtitles Who says you’re an adult? You must have her consent. 10.06.39 Man on phone Subtitle Why? 10.06.39 Man at desk Subtitles Why? You must listen to me! You would need your parents’ consent even if it were circumcision. And this is taking 100 grams of meat from your body. 10.06.50 Music 10.06.51 Narrator This clinic is one of twenty-three that operate across Iran. Every year one thousand four hundred Iranians sell a kidney to a stranger. 10.07.00 Music 10.07.01 Woman at counter Subtitle I want to sell my kidneys. Receptionist Subtitle How old are you? 10.07.04 Woman at counter Subtitle I’m 37. 10.07.07 Receptionist Subtitles 37? Why do you want to do this? 10.07.12 Woman at counter Subtitle I need to. 10.07.13 Receptionist Subtitle What’s your problem? 10.07.15 Woman at counter Subtitle I just need to. 10.07.18 Receptionist Subtitles Can’t you tell us what your problems are so that we can give you better advice? 10.07.24 Woman at counter Subtitle I’m broke. 10.07.27 Receptionist Subtitle Are you married? Woman at counter Subtitle Yes. 10.07.30 Receptionist Subtitle Why doesn’t he do it? 10.07.33 Woman at counter Subtitle He can’t, he’s too old. 10.07.38 Receptionist Subtitles Well, your age is not accepted legally here either. We only accept 23 to 34 year-olds for kidney donations. 10.08.01 Woman at counter Subtitle Isn’t there any possibility? 10.08.03 Receptionist Subtitles The surgeons just won’t accept you. Is your husband here? Is that him? Please step forward. Why do you want to do this? Is there no other solution? 10.08.22 Husband Subtitles No, we wouldn’t be here otherwise. 10.08.25 Receptionist Subtitles Her age means she’s not legally acceptable. She has passed the upper age limit. She’s over 34. 10.08.32 Husband Subtitle So you can’t be over 34? 10.08.34 Receptionist Subtitles No, the doctors won’t accept you. 10.08.38 Husband Subtitles Well, if they won’t accept her… Thank you very much. Receptionist Subtitle You’re welcome. 10.08.48 Narrator Sohaila has passed her psychological examination, now she must also pass a range of medical tests. 10.08.53 Nurse Subtitles Your beta test is unreliable, you need to give another sample. 10.08.55 Sohaila Subtitle What’s that about? 10.08.57 Nurse Subtitles Can you read the results please? 10.09.02 Sohaila Subtitle What’s this blood sample for? Nurse Subtitle You know what Beta is? 10.09.04 Sohaila Subtitle They said hepatitis… 10.09.06 Nurse Subtitle No, it’s a pregnancy test. 10.09.08 Sohaila Subtitle But that’s not necessary. 10.09.11 Nurse Subtitles Well, you know of course if you’re not pregnant. But the laboratory must have a definite result too. 10.09.19 Sohaila Subtitle May I have plaster? 10.09.30 Sohaila Voice over My little sisters said; ‘let’s sell our kidneys!’ They were just kidding. They went on kidding; I’d never heard of such a thing before. Then I thought; maybe it’s a way out. After a while I took it seriously because I had no other option. I’m all they’ve got. If I can’t manage, they’ll have nothing. 10.10.04 Man 1 Subtitle Come on man; let’s go! Man 2 Subtitle What happened? 10.10.07 Man 1 Subtitles Man, the price is ridiculous! I’m not selling lamb stew! 10.10.12 Man 2 Subtitle What’s the matter? 10.10.15 Man 1 Subtitles Well, she said, “why are you selling your kidney?” 10.10.18 Man 2 Subtitles Well you don’t want to sell, do you? 10.10.22 Man 1 Subtitles If it was your own child would you sell for that price? I swear that they’d demand blood money if it was their own kidney. Close down this place if you can’t run it. Leave me alone man! What’s it got to do with you? 10.10.34 Man 2 Subtitle How much do you want? 10.10.40 Sohaila Subtitles Here are the documents you asked for. How many copies of my ID do you need? 10.10.45 Receptionist Subtitle One. Is that your blood group? 10.10.47 Sohaila Subtitle A positive. 10.10.48 Receptionist Subtitles Right now there are a lot of donors with the same blood group as yours. 10.10.52 Sohaila Subtitles Because I’m in a rush, I want to do this quickly. Can’t anyone do it immediately? 10.10.58 Receptionist Subtitles Well, there is a boy of 17 Who’s ready for a transplant. He’s ready and has had all the tests. 10.11.09 Sohaila Subtitles Can you have word with him to make him pay more? 10.11.13 Receptionist Subtitles We can’t do very much about that. There is a lady, Mrs Khorram, who’s involved in the case. 10.11.19 Sohaila Subtitle Is it possible for me to talk to her? Receptionist Subtitle Yes, we can arrange that. 10.11.24 Narrator While each donor needs a relative to give consent that doesn’t mean that all family members approve. 10.11.31 Mother Subtitles My son talked about coming here to sell his kidney. I just want to know if he’s been here. Has he taken all the tests? 10.11.38 Asghar Seyh Subtitle How old is he? 10.11.40 Mother Subtitle 28. Asghar Seyh Subtitles Now don’t be upset. We wouldn’t harm your son, to help a patient. We would not afflict him to help someone who is dependent on dialysis. Donating a kidney is harmless. We even have a wrestler who donated his kidney, and he’s still wrestling! So please don’t cry. 10.12.05 Mother Subtitle He is donating it to a peasant! 10.12.07 Asghar Seyh Subtitles Come now, a peasant is also a human being! 10.12.09 Mother Subtitles But for just £1,000? I’d heard that kidneys are sold for £5,000 - £10,000! After all, it is an organ of the body. 10.12.17 Asghar Seyh Subtitles If it’s about the money then I’ll respond in another way. If you’re crying about the amount, then I’m shocked. 10.12.37 Asghar Seyh Subtitles Look, mother! Here, the transplant has not yet taken place. Both of them have been discharged for financial reasons. 10.12.46 Mother Subtitle Thank you very much, sir. 10.12.49 Man at desk Subtitle How old are you? Man on phone Subtitle 32. 10.12.51 Man at desk Subtitle What do your parents say? 10.12.53 Man on phone Subtitles My father is not here. Nor my mother. I’m alone here. I’m 32! I don’t need a guardian. Man at desk Subtitles Of course you do. What happens if you should die and they need to bury you? 10.13.02 Man on phone Subtitle I have a brother. 10.13.04 Man at desk Subtitles Well, a brother is another matter. He can look after your funeral! 10.13.07 Music 10.13.09 Narrator Mehrdad is back for his final batch of tests. And the clinic have found a match for his kidney. 10.13.16 Narrator Twenty-two year old Shiva has already gone through one transplant operation; her body rejected that kidney now her father is faced with finding the money for another. 10.13.27 Narrator Every other day she needs four hours of dialysis; she is getting desperate for a new kidney. 10.13.43 Shiva Subtitle Hi, how are you? 10.13.45 Mehrdad Subtitles I’m fine thank you. How are you? 10.13.47 Shiva Subtitle Fine, thanks. Is Mr Seyfi here? Mehrdad Subtitle Yes, he is. 10.13.50 Shiva Subtitle Excuse me for being a bit late. Mehrdad Subtitle It’s no problem. 10.13.54 Shiva Subtitle Is Mr Seyfi in his office? Mehrdad Subtitle Yes. Let’s go in. 10.13.56 Shiva Subtitles Before we go I wondered, if it’s no problem, if I could ask for your photo? Because my father couldn’t come along. If you have a picture so that I could show him what you look like – he’s not in Tehran 10.14.06 Mehrdad Subtitles Well, I only have one photo, it’s about two months old. 10.14.10 Shiva Subtitles Oh that’s fine, that’s no problem 10.14.13 Mehrdad Subtitle Here you are. Shiva Subtitle Thank you very much. 10.14.15 Mehrdad Subtitle After you. Shiva Subtitle Thank you. 10.14.21 Asghar Seyh Voice over It’s not up to us to set a price for a person’s organs. But he is donating one his kidneys to you in order to solve his problems. Do you have any problems with the sum you’re paying? 10.14.37 Shiva Voice over Well, of course everyone has problems. But, as you know, my father is still paying for my first transplant. I’ve nothing to say about the payment. It’s up to my father to decide whether he has the money or not. 10.14.51 Narrator As Mehrdad is now asking for more money Shiva must travel back to her father’s house in Semnan, two hundred miles away. 10.15.01 Shiva Subtitles Well, he wasn’t happy with the amount. I suggested we accept whatever the Association proposes and he seemed a bit more satisfied with that. 10.15.12 Shiva’s dad Subtitles I hope you haven’t promised him anything. 10.15.14 Shiva Subtitle No, I said if this money… 10.15.19 Shiva’s dad Subtitle How much did he want first? Shiva Subtitles He said £1,500 or £1,250. He said he really needed it - his landlord had thrown him out. I told him that I needed to speak to my father and its not up to me, it’s up to my father to decide. 10.15.39 Music 10.15.45 Man at desk Subtitles Is there no other way? It’s in your hands. You can go and get your blood tests done. It costs about £125 - £150. Do you have insurance? Man in the doorway Subtitle No 10.15.53 Man at desk Subtitle How many kids do you have? Man in the doorway Subtitle Six. 10.15.56 Man at desk Subtitle You’ve got six kids?! Man in the doorway Subtitle That’s my problem. 10.15.59 Man at desk Subtitle Wasn’t it up to you? 10.16.02 Man in the doorway Subtitles Well, it just happened. I know it was a mistake. 10.16.06 Man at desk Subtitle How old are you? Man in the doorway Subtitle I’m 38. 10.16.11 Man at desk Subtitles 38? Then you’re too old to sell your kidney anyway. 23-34 years is the only age they accept. 10.16.22 Narrator There’s good news for Sohaila; she’s been matched with a seventeen year old called Said. 10.16.30 Music 10.16.41 Receptionist Subtitles This is your recipient. This is your donor 10.16.43 Music 10.16.53 Sohaila Subtitles Excuse me, but before you go for the tissue test I wanted to discuss the payment. 10.17.00 Said Subtitles As regards to money, you have to talk to Mrs Khorram. That’s what I said to Mr Saadati, the person who was going to be my donor. You’ll need to speak to Mrs Khorram. She’ll be here around this time tomorrow. 10.17.17 Sohaila Subtitle Who is she? 10.17.19 Said Subtitles She’s an acquaintance who’s helping me with this. 10.17.24 Sohaila Subtitle Is she a benefactor? Said Subtitle Yes. 10.17.27 Music 10.17.30 Sohaila Voice over It’s not a good feeling. Not at all. Maybe if it was someone close to me, a friend or even an acquaintance I would give my kidney away. I’m sure that I wouldn’t feel this heavy sorrow in my heart. I’d probably be happy about it. 10.17.51 Music 10.17.53 Man at desk Subtitles You want to sell you kidney? Your age? 10.17.56 Man in doorway Subtitle I’m 33. 10.17.57 Man at desk Subtitle Where do you live? Man in doorway Subtitle Esfahan. 10.18.00 Man at desk Subtitles So why don’t you donate in Esfahan? 10.18.02 Man in doorway Subtitle They say it’s better here. 10.18.04 Man at desk Subtitles Better? There’s no difference. Same price everywhere. 10.18.10 Shiva Subtitles Mr Seyfi told you he had loads of donors. Yesterday he phoned to say there were no donors at all. 10.18.17 Man at counter Subtitle Give it to me. 10.18.24 Shiva Subtitles It’s chaos in here. Everybody in here is swearing at them. Listen carefully. 10.18.33 Man at desk on the phone Subtitles Sweetheart, every day I have to deal with 100 people. You’re saying it’s a tall person. How should I remember? 10.18.45 Narrator As donor and recipient Mehrdad and Shiva are spending a lot of time together at the clinic but Mehrdad is becoming impatient; he wants the operation to happen quickly so he can get his money. 10.19.02 Narrator Sohaila has been bogged down in paperwork but it’s now time for her to meet her seventeen year old donor’s benefactor and talk business with Mrs Khorram. 10.19.13 Mrs Khorram Subtitles I think the best thing about what you’re doing, regardless of the money is that it’s of great moral value. But tell me, what’s the reason behind your decision to do this? 10.19.30 Sohaila Subtitles Well, I don’t think it’s charitable. If there was no money involved, one could say that it was a charitable act. But I have two sisters, younger than Said. I’m the only one they can count on. So really the money is for three of us. So I would like to know exactly how much I will get after this surgery. How much will I actually get? Because I need to know if this will really solve my problems. I’m so sorry. Mrs Khorram Subtitles No, it’s fine. I understand. Well, I don’t know if your demands are reasonable, it may be possible for us to meet them. How much do you have in mind? I’ll need to ask different people for help to find the extra. 10.20.27 Sohaila Subtitles Well, the minimum I had in mind, that I need, that could meet my needs is £2,500. So you see how large the gap is! 10.20.37 Mrs Khorram Subtitles With regard to your problems, I can promise the sum of £1,300. 10.20.42 Music 10.20.49 Narrator The reason Mehrdad’s wife didn’t donate her kidney was because she was pregnant. Now because of their money troubles the couple have decided to terminate the pregnancy but at five hundred pounds that’s pushing them even deeper into debt. 10.21.04 Mehrdad Subtitle Hi, have you got any medicine. Drug seller Subtitle What do you need? 10.21.07 Mehrdad Subtitle Injections. Prostadin. 10.21.08 Music 10.21.20 Mehrdad Voice over In our country abortion is illegal. You can’t do it in a normal hospital; it’s only done behind closed doors. 10.21.31 Lady behind door Subtitle Yes? 10.21.33 Mehrdad Subtitles Hi, I’ve got my wife with me here. 10.21.37 Lady behind door Subtitle Have you brought the injections? Mehrdad Subtitle Yes. 10.21.39 Lady behind door Subtitle Please come in. 10.21.43 Lady behind door to Mehrdad Subtitle Not you. You can’t come in. Mehrdad Subtitles I can’t? How long does it take? 10.21.50 Lady behind door Subtitles A long time. You have to wait outside. 10.21.56 Mehrdad Voice over Actually both Maryam and I would like to have children. But unfortunately because of these problems we felt it was too early. It’s too early because we wouldn’t be able to manage financially. If my child were to grow up to be someone like me that would be unacceptable to me. 10.22.20 Narrator Mehrdad is now seriously in debt and his creditors won’t wait much longer. 10.22.24 Music 10.22.35 Man in doorway Subtitles My child has suffered a burn injury. I need the money. 10.22.38 Man at desk Subtitles Well the tests alone cost £150. Do you have that? 10.22.41 Man in doorway Subtitles £150? No. Because my child’s burns have cost me enough already 10.22.50 Mehrdad Subtitles I thought that everything would be finished within two months. I’ve now been waiting for months to get my problems solved. 10.22.56 Mr Khabbaz Subtitles Your problems will never be solved. Mehrdad Subtitle Why, Mr Khabbaz? 10.23.02 Mr Khabbaz Subtitles Because you’re country’s problems can’t be solved. 10.23.07 Man at table Subtitles Mr Seyfi, there is nothing more to be said. 10.23.22 Mehrdad Voice over What can I do! What misery; I’ve got no way out. I swear to God I’m getting a bit more shattered every day. Every day my body is getting worn away; my mind as well. These people claim they care about us. I am really fed up. Months have gone by; I applied for this months ago. How long does it take to get operated on after you’ve applied? 10.23.57 Man Voice over It depends, between a week and two months. 10.24.01 Mehrdad Voice over How long at the most? 10.24.02 Man Voice over Two months. 10.24.07 Narrator Mehrdad and Shiva have finally fixed a date for the surgery. But the day before the operation there are new unexpected costs. 10.24.28 Doctor Subtitles You have to buy these injections anyway. So it’s better to buy them today. It’s not absolutely necessary but it’s better for her kidney, because it is her second transplant. If you can’t get them today we can postpone the operation until Saturday. Otherwise it will put pressure on everything else. I must know, if you can get the injections today or not. 10.25.02 Shiva’s father Subtitle And she is in for dialysis too. 10.25.04 Doctor Subtitle She would be in for that anyway. 10.25.06 Shiva’s father Subtitles I really have no more money and it takes two injections. That’s £600. 10.25.11 Doctor Subtitles Yes, you must get at least two today. 10.25.13 Shiva’s father Subtitles And the other two are needed after the transplant? I’ll see what I can do. 10.25.31 Shiva’s father Subtitles If only I knew what to do! Shall I phone or not? 10.25.42 Mehrdad Subtitles Nobody seems to know what’s going on. Will they get the injections or not? They’ll ask the doctor to postpone the operation until Saturday. 10.26.05 Shiva’s father Subtitles What shall I tell them? Not tell them? It’s not peanuts, it’s £1,200! God! What shall I do? 10.26.21 Mehrdad Subtitle It’s taking some time… 10.26.25 Maryam Subtitle Don’t worry, it will be all right. 10.26.29 Mehrdad Subtitles He has to go there, buy the stuff, then come back here. 10.26.35 Narrator Shiva’s father cannot raise the cash so the operation is postponed. 10.26.42 Telephone rings 10.26.44 Man at desk Subtitle Yeah? Man on phone Subtitle Hi! I’d like to have your address. 10.26.48 Man at desk Subtitles And what do you want to do with my address? 10.26.51 Man on phone Subtitle I wanted to come and see you. Man at desk Subtitle What for? 10.26.53 Man on phone Subtitles Isn’t that the Association for Kidney Patients? 10.26.56 Man at desk Subtitles Are you proposing to me or something? Man on phone Subtitle Excuse me! 10.26.58 Man at desk Subtitle Excuse you what? Man on phone Subtitle What’s your business? 10.27.02 Sohaila Subtitle After you! 10.27.03 Mrs Khorram Subtitle After you! 10.27.04 Narrator Sohaila and Mrs Khorram have finally reached an agreement. 10.27.11 Mrs Khorram Subtitles We have written to the hospital and we have reached an agreement. Do I need to do anything else, sign for the amount I have to pay? 10.27.22 Woman at desk Subtitles No you’ll pay the amount to the donor after the operation. 10.27.26 Mrs Khorram Subtitles Because, we’ve reached an agreement. I’ll pay a bit more than the usual amount. 10.27.31 Narrator A week later Mehrdad and Shiva are back; their operation is tomorrow. 10.27.37 Mehrdad Subtitles The other night I dreamt I was on the operating table. They cut open my stomach and said: “Look! He has no kidneys!” I said: “How is that possible?” And I wasn’t even anaesthetised. But they went on looking for my kidneys. 10.27.55 Shiva Subtitles In other words you’d been fooled! 10.27.59 Man at desk Subtitle Hello? Woman on phone Subtitles Hello! Sorry to bother you. I want to sell my kidney. 10.28.05 Man at desk Subtitle Well, how old are you? Woman on phone Subtitle I’m 33 years old. 10.28.08 Man at desk Subtitle Are you married? Woman on phone Subtitle Yes. 10.28.11 Man at desk Subtitles Do you have you’re husband’s consent? Here’s the address. 10.28.14 Mehrdad Subtitles Slippers, towels, shaver, knife, fork, spoon, cup and chewing gum… This is the guy who wants to give a kidney to this lady. 10.28.24 Maryam Subtitles He’s promised to grow his beard back after the operation. 10.28.27 Shiva Subtitles No. Don’t do that! You’re hair looks nice here but not your beard. 10.28.31 Maryam Subtitles You see, didn’t I tell you you had nice hair? Long hair suits you. 10.28.36 Mehrdad Subtitles Well, you know, I am generally a beautiful person! 10.28.39 Maryam Subtitle Well, let me see! 10.28.41 Mehrdad Subtitle Sir, don’t I look good with a beard? 10.28.43 Shiva Subtitles I don’t like facial hair at all. Although Makan has a moustache. 10.28.51 Mehrdad singing Subtitles Oh my darling, my heart is full of sorrow… 10.28.56 Shiva Subtitles Your voice is not that bad. Come on, you’ll make your wife cry. 10.29.00 Maryam Subtitle No, not until its time to leave. 10.29.03 Shiva Subtitles Don’t cry at all! Otherwise he’ll get ideas into his head. 10.29.07 Mehrdad Subtitle Are you jealous, perhaps? 10.29.09 Shiva Subtitles Why? I’ve got my own boyfriend. 10.29.19 Maryam Subtitles Give me a kiss. And one on this side too. Take care of yourself and take care of my husband too. 10.29.29 Shiva Subtitle Sure, of course. 10.29.48 Music 10.29.54 Mehrdad Subtitle Now, she’s left me alone. 10.29.55 Music 10.30.09 Narrator Sohaila is in hospital too. 10.30.12 Music 10.30.16 Sohaila Voice over I usually keep my worries to myself and don’t tell my sisters about them. They don’t even know about the money I owe. They only know that I’m borrowing some money to rent a flat so they can stay with me. That gives them hope in their lives. That’s all the hope they have. 10.30.36 Music 10.30.49 Mehrdad Subtitle Is your heart beating hard? 10.30.52 Shiva Subtitles I feel almost dead already. I don’t know why my dad couldn’t make it. 10.31.02 Nurse Subtitle Miss, what’s your family name? 10.31.04 Shiva Subtitle Ahdi, Shiva. 10.31.07 Nurse Subtitles What’s your blood group? Have you agreed on the payment? 10.31.13 Mehrdad Subtitles I haven’t received any money yet, but it will be all right. 10.31.17 Nurse Subtitles It’s your decision. Go in there and they’ll anaesthetise you. It’s up to you. 10.31.28 Music 10.31.34 Mehrdad Subtitle Destiny brought me here. 10.31.36 Music 10.31.40 Narrator In Iran seventy-five percent of kidney receivers are still alive five years after their transplant. But less is known about the welfare of the donors. One survey found that nearly eighty percent had no follow-up checks because they could not afford the medical bills and more than seventy percent suffered from severe depression after their operation. 10.32.03 Music 10.32.29 Doctor Subtitle Open your eyes. 10.32.30 Music 10.32.50 Shiva’s Dad Subtitle Cry. It will make you feel better. 10.32.54 Music 10.33.08 Narrator For Sohaila and Said the day of their operation has also finally arrived. 10.33.13 Music 10.33.46 Mehrdad Subtitle Hi Shiva! Are you all right? 10.33.49 Shiva Subtitle I felt very sick last night. 10.33.51 Mehrdad Subtitle Are you better now? Shiva Subtitle Yes. 10.33.54 Mehrdad Subtitles I didn’t feel well then either. It was because of the medication. 10.34.06 Nurse Subtitle Are you in pain? Sohaila Subtitle A lot. 10.34.09 Nurse Subtitles It’s only pain in your side. It’ll get better. No need to move. It’s OK as you are. 10.34.19 Sohaila Subtitle I feel so much pressure here. 10.34.21 Nurse Subtitles Gently now, put your hand here. 10.34.26 Shiva’s Dad Subtitle Hi. Mehrdad Subtitle Hi. 10.34.31 Shiva’s Dad Subtitle How are you? Mehrdad Subtitle Good, thank you. 10.34.35 Shiva’s Dad Subtitle I’ve got a little gift for you. Mehrdad Subtitle Thanks. 10.34.40 Shiva’s Dad Subtitle Here you are. Mehrdad Subtitles Thanks very much. Thank you. You needn’t have… How much is it? Is it around £1,500? 10.34.57 Shiva’s Dad Subtitles It’s around £1,500? This is £1,350, the rest I’ll give you later. We’ll be in touch anyway. 10.35.10 Mehrdad Subtitle That’s kind of you. 10.35.11 Shiva’s Dad Subtitles Please keep this small gift for now. I hope it will solve your problems. And thank you so much. 10.35.20 Mehrdad Subtitles We have to be very careful with the money. My kidney was our last asset. There’s nothing else to sell. We must be very careful. 10.35.33 Music 10.35.38 Narrator As she recovers Sohaila’s getting her money too. 10.35.41 Music 10.35.41 Mrs Khorram Subtitles Write. “I, Hossein Bagheri, brother of Said Bagheri”… 10.35.43 Music 10.35.48 Narrator But in return, a delegation from Said’s family, are asking her for a receipt. 10.35.53 Hossein Bagheri Subtitle Please, excuse me, sign here. 10.35.55 Music 10.36.09 Hossein Bagheri Subtitle Thank you so much. 10.36.24 Sohaila Subtitles Thank you very much. You’re so kind. I will never forget this. 10.36.29 Mrs Khorram Subtitle Don’t mention it. 10.36.32 Sohaila Subtitles Aside from the money, you were very helpful. 10.37.01 Mehrdad reading letter Voice over In the name of the God of love, I hope you feel even better than before. Now that you lack an organ I hope you don’t miss it! In my belief it was God who sent you to me. You are my rescuing angel. Now I don’t need a machine for four hours every other day. So I feel that you are dearer and more valuable to me than anyone, Makan included. 10.37.29 Mehrdad Voice over By the way, Makan is her fiancé. 10.37.34 Mehrdad reading letter Voice over I hope that I will care for your gift in a good way throughout my life and feel that you are with me all the time. I love you and I wish you every happiness and good health. I wish you luck. 10.37.51 Mehrdad Voice over That was Shiva’s letter that she gave me the last day in the hospital. It’s true that a part of my body is now in her body. 10.38.03 Music 10.38.05 Narrator Mehrdad paid off his debts and bought a taxi on credit. But he was involved in an accident and his car was written off. He is still paying the instalments but is currently unemployed. 10.38.16 Music 10.38.18 Narrator Sohaila paid back her debts but lost her job because of all the time off work due to her donation. She’s hoping to start a new job soon working for a newspaper. 10.38.28 End Music Credits 10.38.29 Narration IAN CURTIS Camera ZARE ZAHRAIE Picture Editors BERNARD WINKLER KAVEH AKABER Subtitling PAULA GILDER Production Manager AIDIN ZOLFAGHARI Sound ALI MADANI Dubbing Mixer SCOTT MARSHALL Production Assistant FARSHID ROSTAMI Original music HOSAYN ALIZADHE Special thanks to ANTONIO RUSSO MERENDA MONICA BENGTSSON CHARLOTTE RICHARDSON Produced by Hysteria Film AB In co-production with: SVERIGES TELEVISION AB, SVT ITVS Internationella Media Development Fund (IMDF) Executive Producer for ITVS Sally Jo Fifer ITVS Internationella Media Development Fund is supported by The Ford Foundation The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation And Nima Film With the support of: DR/Flemming Grenz YLE/TV 1, Erkki Astala Nordic Film - & TV Fund, Eva Færevaag Director NIMA SARVESTANI Producer MALLA GRAPENGIESSER Executive Producer SVT PATRICK BRATT AXEL ARNÖ For the BBC Colourist & Online Editor ROD HUTSON Production Manager JANE WILLEY Unit Manager SUSAN CRIGHTON Post Production Producer NICKEY BOLSTER Series Producer LEO TELLING 10.38.36 Narrator For more information on tonight’s programme or to view it again, you can visit our website on bbc.co.uk forward slash This World. If you’d like to be reminded about upcoming This World programmes, text ‘This World’ to 81010 to receive our free text alert service. 10.38.40 bbc.co.uk/thisworld Text THISWORLD to 81010 Your initial text to us costs no more than 15p 10.38.55 thisworld 10.38.55 Editor KAREN O’CONNOR Hysteria Film AB & Sveriges Television AB for BBC BBC © Hysteria Film AB & Sveriges Television AB MMVI 10.39.00 End BBC This World: Kidneys For Sale 1 1