PLAN
B: ABORTIONS IN AMERICA
SBS
Australia
Postproduction script
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VIDEO |
AUDIO |
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Janes trailer olay |
Upsot protest VO In the
1960s, ordinary Americans risked jail to help women have abortions They called
themselves the Janes |
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D05_C300 |
Heather: (01:13:36) |
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Upsot protest VO: 5 decades later, Roe v Wade, the case guaranteeing women the
constitutional right to an abortion, is struck down |
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Upsot 00:12 –
00:15 evangelicals celebrate RTV 00:54 UPSOT "It's disgusting. Women are not incubators, you cannot force someone to give birth." |
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VO: Tonight, we travel to the Republican stronghold of Alabama
to witness the reality of America’s abortion ban. Kathy: (02:30:33) |
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And meet the new generation of Americans risking everything to
provide women access to abortions… Ireland: (17:53) |
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CUT TO BLACK |
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STORY
TITLE: |
PLAN B:
ABORTION IN AMERICA |
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D02_DRONE_009 Huntsville Drone – flags 00:00:26 |
UPSOT: Nat, sound – traffic,
pedestrians, cicadas etc. |
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00:11:20 2019 Alabama GVs Plus rushes
provided by Will Can also use 2022 Alabama GVs |
VO: Home to
2.5 million women, Alabama is considered by many as the heart of America’s
deep south.
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CAL PTC DRIVING D02_C300 00:21:40 |
On the day the Supreme Court handed down its
ruling, countless women were in clinics right across America waiting for an
abortion. I want to speak to people who witnessed first
hand the moment 50 years of abortion rights were suddenly
extinguished. |
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D02_C300 Actuality Ext Cal meets Kathy in parking lot,
chat and walk into clinic |
Upsot 01:58:00 Cal and Kathy greetings Cal: (01:58:04) Kathy: (01:58:07) |
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Clinic GVs |
VO: The Alabama Women’s Centre
in Huntsville was one of only three clinics operating in the state when
abortions were still legal As a result, it became a hotbed
for anti-abortion protesters |
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D02_C300 Cal and Kathy walk into clinic |
VO For the last 10 years, Kathy Zentner has escorted women past the very vocal
demonstrators into the clinic |
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D02_C300 Actuality Int Cal and Kathy inside clinic
waiting room |
Cal: (02:01:24) BUTT TO Kathy: (02:02:33) Cal: (02:03:22)
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Kathy and Cal go into the next part of
the clinic, lights are switched off, no staff around 02:05:30 |
THOUGHT TRACK Kathy: (02:02:47) |
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Kathy shows Cal around 02:06:24 – 02:07:30 |
As Kathy shows me around the shuttered clinic… it’s incredible
to think that these quiet, empty spaces were once bustling with activity |
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In situ IV with Kathy Can thought track some of this… also
cut with empty clinic olay Kathy and Cal go into the next part of
the clinic, lights are switched off, no staff around 02:05:30 |
Kathy: (02:19:14) |
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VO: Kathy says, on busy days, as many as 45 women would come
through the clinic doors Now that this centre, and Alabama’s two other clinics, are
closed, it’s estimated almost one million women of reproductive age no longer
have access to an abortion |
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Kathy introduces Cal to Sanithia,
who’s sitting behind a desk in the main room WIDE 01:25:40 REVERSAL 01:27:50 TIGHT 01:28:35 |
Cal: (01:25:50) Sanithia: hello |
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Extra
olay 01:39:26 Sanithia
chat with employee |
Kathy introduces me to Dr Sanithia
Williams who was working here on the last day abortions were legal. |
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IV with Sanithia at desk |
Sanithia: (34:09) we, to be honest with you kind of took a moment to gather
ourselves. Um, I personally was pretty upset. Um, once I, you know, got the
message from our lawyers, that we were not gonna be
able to continue care. Um, I, I took a moment to cry a little bit, to be
honest with you. Sanithia: (50:20) |
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01:33:55 – 01:34:20 Sanithia cleaning
up ultrasound thingy, closing lid, switching off light 01:35:00 reversal of sequence |
THOUGHT TRACK Sanithia: (01:18:40) |
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ALT INTRO 1 01:23:30 ALT INTRO 2 01:24:22 |
Dr Williams continues to provide general reproductive care to
women at the clinic – and they still receive phone calls from those seeking
abortions. |
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Actuality 01:40:10 - 01:40:42 ALT 01:41:17 reversal, tight on phone ALT 2 01:43:00 01:53:40 chat cutaways |
Upsot
receptionist answers phone “Good afternoon, AWC how can I help you?...No
I’m sorry, abortions are illegal in Alabama now… I can’t help you with that,
I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do, you have to do
your research, it’s illegal for me to help you… I’m sorry, you’re welcome.. bye bye” |
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In situ IV with receptionist |
Cal: (01:48:31)
(reversal) Receptionist: (01:46:55)
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In situ IV with Sanithia Can also use GVs below to cover 06:14 - space between recipients and Sanithia. Int clinic 00:28:00 – 00:31:00 Women chatting Ovaries painting on wall CCTV screen Receptionist and nurse at front desk |
THOUGHT TRACK Sanithia: (35:57) Cal: (36:29) Sanithia: (36:56) |
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In situ IV with Sanithia GVs Sanithia at desk in her own office 01:36:30 – 01:39:20 |
Sanithia: (40:18) |
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Clinic GVs D02_C300 02:48:00 – 02:55:10 |
Dr Williams says it’s Alabama’s poorest women
who will be most affected 75% of women requesting abortion in the US are
in poverty or in the low income bracket. VISION BREATH |
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In situ IV with Sanithia |
Sanithia: (54:51) Sanithia: (55:21) |
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Kathy in situ Qs |
THOUGHT TRACK Kathy: (02:30:25) Cal: (02:26:13) Kathy: (02:26:20) |
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ROE V WADE
EXPLAINER |
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Reproductive rights have been under attack in America for the
past 50 years. Abortion was mostly illegal until 1973 when Jane Roe, an
unmarried pregnant woman challenged laws in Texas which criminalised
abortion. The Supreme Court decided the right to privacy protected the
right to an abortion. VO: It energised conservative forces – who lobbied state
lawmakers to pass their own rules and challenge Roe V. Wade in the supreme
court. VO: After 5 decades, Roe Versus Wade was finally overturned by
the republican- nominated justices Giving the states the power to write their own abortion laws. |
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ERIC
JOHNSTON D01_C300 |
The
victorious conservatives, why, and what comes next? |
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Breather Birmingham establishing shots D02_C300 00:00:00 – 00:10:00 |
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D01_C300 PTC 01:50:35 ALT 01:51:37 Cal walks up to the offices of Eric
Johnston |
I’ve come to the city of Birmingham to
meet a man who’s been working towards this moment his entire life |
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D01_C300 Cal walks down hallway, greeted by
Eric |
Cal: (01:15:22) |
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D01_C300 Cal and Eric walkies |
Eric Johnston was a republican candidate for
the Alabama Supreme Court in 2010 and is now an attorney |
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D01_C300 Main IV with Eric |
Cal: (01:10:59)
BUTT TO Eric: (01:11:10) BUTT TO THOUGHT TRACK Eric: (01:38:06) |
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D01_C300 Eric and Cal sitting at a desk looking at old photos 01:32:16 – 01:43:56 Religious plaque 01:46:01 |
For 30 years, Eric has spearheaded anti-abortion advocacy in
Alabama. |
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D01_C300 Eric and Cal sitting at a desk looking at old photos |
Eric: (01:40:13) Eric: (01:35:56) Eric: (01:34:20) |
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Archive 90s pro-life rally Credit: ABCWNT / NEWS1 FAIR DEALING |
Eric and other anti-abortion activists hit the streets as anger parked
in evangelical communities Upsot reporter: “it is now the tactic of choice in the war against
abortion. Blocking the entrance of a clinic, attempting to shut it down
(SINGING) This footage from 1989 shows the lengths activists went to ..to prevent clinics from providing abortions The following year, Eric founded the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition He began drawing up legal challenges and pushing for law reform,
which saw abortions slowly decrease and clinics close in Alabama |
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D01_C300 Main Eric IV and Cal reversals |
THOUGHT TRACK 00:19:34:10 - 00:19:58:07 Eric Basically what we
were doing through the nineties and into the 2000 because we knew the Supreme
Court would not reverse Roe. So we were just trying
to establish laws that again protected the health care of women and would
reduce the number of abortions. And so we were
basically chipping away at the Roe opinion Cal: (17:54) Eric: (18:37) |
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Angry Dem senators argue in debate CREDIT: PBS/ALABAMA PUBLIC
TELEVISION FAIR DEALING ALSO STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM
PBS ABOUT LICENSING |
In 2019, Eric helped write what’s been
called America’s harshest anti-abortion bill - stripping exceptions for rape and incest Upsot angry Alabama senate debate on
2019 Loud
shouting in Senate “No no no
there was no motion there was no motion?!?!?!” As this footage shows, it sparked furious reactions from
Democrats in Alabama’s senate at the time It became law the day Roe v Wade was overturned |
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Main Eric IV and Cal reversals |
Eric: (34:46) 00:35:30:10 - 00:35:37:22 Calli Can you understand why the lack of any exception for rape or
incest is morally repugnant to a lot of people? 00:27:06:16 - 00:27:38:13 Eric They make that as a big argument. But probably about 1% of rapes
result in conception where abortions are done in about a half a percent on
incest. Cal: (36:59) Eric: But you have a great potential for abuse. How do you
determine if it was rape or incest? You know. Calli: There's a legal system that can establish that. Eric: It's very difficult for the legal system to determine if
someone says, well, I was raped, but you got to prove you were raped |
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Office GVs |
Eric says he’ll fight any future debate allowing abortions for
victims of rape or incest in Alabama and will go after anyone caught helping
women access abortion pills in the state |
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Main IV with Eric |
Eric: (52:24) Cal: (52:59) |
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Main Eric IV and Cal reversals |
Cal: (55:29) Eric: (55:36) Eric: (46:22) Eric: (01:06:24) |
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GFX US
ABORTION |
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We highlight the states that will now
ban abortion through GFX |
After Roe v Wade was overturned, 14
states immediately
criminalised abortions…
Like Alabama, many of these states only allow abortions in cases
of medical emergency or severe foetal abnormality but no exceptions are made
for victims of rape or incest. |
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Prayer GVs RTV 01:29 pro-lifer points to sky |
Upsot pro-lifers cheering
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CONSERVATIVE
BUT PRO-CHOICE |
How did the Republican party swing away from Pro-choice to
Pro-life? |
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BREATHE WASHINGTON LOCATION CARD |
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D05_C300 Cal driving shots, gets out of car at
SC 00:41:00 – 00:46:15 |
So I’ve come to the Supreme Court in Washington DC to meet someone
who’s spent her life serving the Republican Party |
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D05_C300 Ann and Cal outside SC Ann and Cal walk and talk – other angle @ 2.34 and 4.07 |
Upsot hellos Ann and Cal (other angle 00:36) Cal: (00:00) Cal: (01:24) Cal: (02:43) |
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D05_C300 Ann and Cal walkies 00:03:30 – 00:05:45 STILLS |
Ann Stone
couldn’t be more Republican if she tried. She’s
pro-guns, she founded the Women for Trump group, is a practising Christian.. and her ex-husband even worked for Donald
Trump when he was President |
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D05_C300 Main Iv with Ann Walking to iv spot from 27.01 and
27.22 Wide angle of interview from 24.09 and
25.30 and 26.42 |
Cal: (25:51)
(reversal)
BUTT TO Ann: (09:18) |
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Ann Stone C-SPAN File/archive |
Toward the end of the Reagan administration, Ann founded a lobby
group ..to rally support in the party But getting that message through to the Republican establishment
became an increasingly difficult task |
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D05_C300 Main IV with Ann |
THOUGHT TRACK SOME OF THIS TO C-SPAN Ann: (14:51) Cal: (28:02) Ann: (28:13) |
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D05_C300 Main IV with Ann |
Ann: (15:34) Cal: (13:41) BUTT TO Ann: (14:26) |
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THE JANE
COLLECTIVE |
What measures did women go to for an abortion pre-Roe? |
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LOCATION
CARD: |
WASHINGTON
D.C. |
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D04_C300 01:08:45 obelisk 01:12:41 plane in background 01:16:28 guy proselytising 01:19:55 Lincoln statue D05_C300 00:02:59 US flag on Capitol |
VO With millions of American women now unable to easily access
an abortion – there are fears of a return to the pre-Roe days When backyard abortions risked lives |
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Cal PTC at National Monument D04_C300 01:07:45 V1 01:08:04 V2 D05_C300 01:44:53 CAL DRIVING ALT 01:38:04 Cal walking in house |
I want to know what that world could look like So I’m on the
way to meet someone who was instrumental in
the underground fight when abortion was illegal decades ago |
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D05_C300 grabs House GVs |
THOUGHT TRACK Heather: (01:02:13) Heather: (01:02:36) some did damage to themselves, stories of women taking lie or using
coat hangers or knitting needles, often creating, uh, infections and doing
other internal damage. |
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STILL COURTESY HEATHER BOOTH CREDIT:
Photograph by Wallace Roberts, 1964,
courtesy The Roberts Family |
In 1965, Heather Booth was a Chicago college student – whose
life was about to change |
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D05_C300 |
Heather: (57:46) Heather: (58:24) Heather: (58:47) |
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Stills – zoom on Heather, front row
second from left CREDIT:
HEATHER BOOTH |
But word spread .. and Heather found
herself at the centre of a growing network |
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Still Talking to rights management
about this still CREDIT:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD |
Heather: (01:00:26) |
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APPROVED BY HBO/BINGE CREDIT:
HBO/BINGE ‘The Janes’ |
And so the Janes set about growing
their network and reaching as many women as they could Upsot Jane doco – we were ordinary
women trying to save women’s lives… This year Heather featured in a timely HBO documentary telling
their story, which has since become legendary |
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D05_C300 Heather showing Cal some pics
on the wall |
Heather: (01:31:48) Cal: (01:34:28) |
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Still – mugshot of women
arrested CREDIT: HBO/BINGE |
But great risks were always present In 1972, the Chicago homicide squad was tipped off about the
Janes and raided their headquarters, arresting seven women |
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D05_C300 Main IV with Heather |
Heather: (01:13:36) Cal: (01:14:19) Heather: (01:14:34) Cal: (01:26:01) Heather: (01:19:59) |
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THE
NEW JANES |
What comes
next? The next evolution of this fight? |
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These forces of the future, have already begun to muster Some are already
risking prison to help women get access to an abortion. |
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THOUGHT TRACK Ireland: (17:53) |
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Ireland: (12:05) |
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The day Roe v Wade was overturned –
Ireland made the decision to risk everything – and subvert this red state’s
ban on abortion |
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Ireland: (09:57) Ireland: (38:20) |
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Cal: (15:12) Ireland: (40:54) We get a request. The request is evaluated. We send their
information to one of our medical teams, a person on the medical team makes contact with the individual. Ireland: (42:16) Ireland: (16:00) |
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Ireland says their network consists of dozens of women across
the country who began as a social media group Now, she says, they communicate offline via encrypted chats and
VPNs to protect their identities |
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Cal: (22:08) Cal: (16:29) Ireland: (16:56) |
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Ireland: (29:34) |
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RTV 00:16 – 00:57 Protesters singing song outside
Supreme Court |
By returning abortion law to the states
to decide, the Supreme Court has set the stage for bitter divisions, and
legal and political battles, for decades to come |
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Can we use this song as a music track that
sees out the film – to play underneath remaing
grabs? |
Eric: (48:20) Eric: (46:36) |
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RTV protest vision |
Upsot RTV soulful singing outside SC For both
sides, it’s clear the end of Roe is not the end of this story |
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D02_C300 Kathy in situ |
Kathy: (02:29:34) |
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D05_C300 Heather main IV |
Heather: (01:15:30) |
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NWT |
Next week on Dateline Banned from playing sport. We meet the female athletes desperate
to flee Afghanistan |