Everybody needs disabled Neighbours: part 3
- 6 Jul 05, 12:00 AM
Once again, it's time to venture into Ramsay Street once again, on a mission to find out what popular Australian soap Neighbours has up its sleeve as regards disability-themed storylines.
You may remember Australian Ouch reader Stella Young - she got in touch with us back in April to tell us more about the plot involving Stuart Parker, who had a remarkable recovery from his blindness. Betcha thought that was it for disability in Neighbours, didn't you? Wrong! Stella's sent me another email with some juicy news about a new storyline currently airing down under. But as I warned you last time, there are possible spoilers ahead, so please look away now if you're a dedicated Neighbours fan whose enjoyment of the show would be spoiled if you found out this stuff.
OK, have they gone? Here's Stella's email:
"Guess what? We have a genuine amputee on Neighbours now! Paul Robinson got himself into some sort of strife following his fraudulent and adulterous behaviour. A few weeks back, I caught a few snippets of him stumbling around in the bush with a set of crutches made from tree branches, and thought he might be dead by now - he wasn't looking real flash.
"But alas, last night I heard screams about 'phantom pain' from a hospital bed! Dr Karl, helpful soul he is, rushed in and calmly explained that this was normal for a recent amputee. "Your condition is - blah, blah, blah. We expect it to last - blah, blah, blah. Possible treatments for your condition include - blah, blah, blah." (My housemate and I have a theory that Dr Karl uses the same script for every diagnosis scene, and just inserts names of conditions or illnesses along with the most popular treatment at the time).
"Looking at the TV Guide in the paper this morning, it looks like there's a crip-tastic episode coming up on Friday night. It says "Susan wants Paul to return to teaching - but Paul refuses, saying he is only half a man". Oh, good lord! I'll have to tape it so I can keep you informed."
Keep us informed? KEEP US INFORMED?!!! Stella, we're champing at the bit here! We're absolutely desperate to know who the next Crip Of The Week is going to be down Ramsay Street way, and how their miraculous cure comes about. Terrific stuff.
Oh, and in return for Stella's dedicated work watching Neighbours so we don't have to, it's only fair that I give mention to her blog: . She tells me: "mainly it's to show off the stuff I knit, but there are also crip bits. OK, so maybe I am a nerd - just of the knitting variety, rather than the computer one". Now I fully admit that I don't know much about knitting (OK, nothing about knitting), but you should still go and give Stella's blog a read.
Comments
I bet, like the Dr Who story set during World War 2, Paul Robinson's ex-limb miraculously grows back!
I like the idea of disabled people participating in soaps, dramas, etc. We are here in the real world, why not in TV world? In fact, here in the UK, off hand, I can only think of one - the CAD operator in The Bill is in a wheelchair, isn't he?
Or he will leave the soap!