Brendan’s Death Ceremony (“Mary Kills People”, Season 2, Episode 6)

The popular Canadian drama series Mary Kills People centers on the life and work of Dr. Mary Harris (Caroline Dhavernas), who covertly operates an illegal medically-assisted suicide business with her partner Des Bennett (Richard Short). Both are willing to risk their freedom due to their conviction that people should be allowed to end their own lives with dignity.

Taking place at the climax of the second season – at which point, Mary and Des have opened a “death retreat” disguised as a hospice – this scene features the ceremonial suicide of Brendan Challis (Salvatore Antonio), a theater artist suffering from a terminal illness who wishes to die on his own terms. The interstitial shots are of Mary’s sometime-love interest, Ben Wesley (Jay Ryan), who is suffering a crisis of conscience.

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